Kolkata, April 2 (NationPress) In a stunning display, left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat achieved remarkable bowling stats of 3-21, propelling Sunrisers Hyderabad to a decisive victory over Kolkata Knight Riders by 65 runs, marking their inaugural win of the IPL 2026 season at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Thursday.

After SRH set a formidable target of 226/8, the highest total seen in the tournament so far, powered by Heinrich Klaasen’s 52 and Abhishek Sharma’s 48, Unadkat’s exceptional bowling was pivotal in their successful total defense. He received solid support from Eshan Malinga, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Harsh Dubey, who consistently pressured KKR, ultimately bowling them out for 161 in just 16 overs, despite a promising 110/3 start.

This win was crucial, not only for securing SRH's first two points but also for being the first successful defense of a total in this year's league. Other than Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who scored 52, KKR struggled against the disciplined bowling attack of SRH, with the pacers effectively utilizing slower deliveries, never truly threatening to chase the daunting target.

The KKR innings began with fireworks as Finn Allen scored 28 runs in just seven balls, including four boundaries and two sixes in the explosive opening over by David Payne. However, Dubey made a crucial breakthrough by dismissing Allen through a sharp caught and bowled effort.

Ajinkya Rahane and Raghuvanshi built on the momentum with a solid 37-run partnership for the second wicket, with Raghuvanshi showcasing his excellent stroke play. Yet, SRH soon regrouped as Unadkat claimed Rahane with a slower ball that was caught at mid-wicket, while Cameron Green was run out on the last delivery of the sixth over, leaving KKR at 74/3.

Raghuvanshi continued to score aggressively, reaching his second consecutive fifty in just 27 balls before being run out for 52 in the 11th over. Nitish, maintaining accuracy in his bowling, quickly dismissed Anukul Roy and Rinku Singh, significantly hindering KKR's chase.

Even though Sunil Narine attempted a brief counterattack with two sixes in a 12-run innings, Malinga dismissed him along with Ramandeep Singh in consecutive overs. Unadkat then returned to clean up, taking out Kartik Tyagi and Varun Chakaravarthy to conclude with figures of 3-21 and secure their first win of the season.

Earlier, explosive innings from Abhishek and Klaasen enabled SRH to post the highest score of the season. For KKR, pacer Blessing Muzarabani finished with 4-41, and despite the team not conceding many runs in the final overs, they faced a massive target.

In their innings, SRH started with gusto, as Abhishek and Travis Head attacked the new-ball bowlers, who struggled with their lengths. Head scored 46 off 21 balls, including six fours and three sixes, while Abhishek hit 48 off 21 deliveries, featuring four fours and four sixes. Their partnership generated 82 runs in under five overs, setting the stage for a mammoth score.

After Head fell to Tyagi, Muzarabani helped KKR regain control with two quick wickets in the eighth over, dismissing Abhishek and a dangerous Ishan Kishan. While Narine and Chakaravarthy were costly, Anukul Roy managed to hold his ground by taking out Aniket Verma, leaving SRH at 118/4 in 9.2 overs.

Klaasen and Reddy, who scored 39 off 24 balls, stabilized the innings with a vital 82-run partnership for the fifth wicket, marking the second-highest partnership for SRH in IPL history at that position. The duo capitalized on any bowling errors, sending the ball over the boundary frequently, with Reddy even getting a reprieve from Chakaravarthy.

While Nitish and Salil Arora fell to Vaibhav Arora, Klaasen remained composed, eventually completing a fluent half-century—his first of the season. His 52 runs off 35 balls included four boundaries and a six, ensuring SRH maintained their momentum despite regular wickets.

Dubey contributed with a quick cameo, hitting successive boundaries off Arora in the 19th over. Muzarabani returned to claim two more wickets in the final over, including Klaasen, marking his first four-wicket haul in the IPL. Despite the late strikes, SRH surpassed the 220-mark, providing more than enough to secure their place on the points table.

Brief scores:

Sunrisers Hyderabad: 226/8 in 20 overs (Heinrich Klaasen 52, Abhishek Sharma 48; Blessing Muzarabani 4-41, Vaibhav Arora 2-47) beat Kolkata Knight Riders: 161 all out in 16 overs (Angkrish Raghuvanshi 52, Rinku Singh 35; Jaydev Unadkat 3-21, Eshan Malinga 2-14) by 65 runs.