The Eden Gardens erupted in joy as the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) pulled off a heist against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Match 28 of IPL 2026. In a game that swung like a pendulum, KKR chased down 156 runs with just two balls to spare, thanks to a masterclass in finishing from Rinku Singh and a clinical bowling performance led by the "Mystery Spinner" Varun Chakaravarthy.
The Collapse: Chakaravarthy Breaks RR's Momentum
Rajasthan Royals started with explosive intent after being put into bat. The young prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (46 off 28) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (39) looked unstoppable, racing to 81/0 in the powerplay. However, the introduction of Varun Chakaravarthy turned the tide.
Chakaravarthy delivered one of the best spells of the season, finishing with figures of 3/14. He dismantled the top order, and with support from Sunil Narine (2/26) and Kartik Tyagi (3/22), KKR induced a massive collapse. RR lost 9 wickets for just 74 runs, finishing at a below-par 155/9.
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The Chase: Rinku Singh to the Rescue
KKR’s chase started disastrously. The home side lost Tim Seifert and captain Ajinkya Rahane for ducks within the first two overs. Cameron Green played a blistering cameo of 27 off 13 balls to keep the required rate in check, but wickets continued to tumble.
At 70/5, KKR looked buried. Enter Rinku Singh. The southpaw played a calculated yet aggressive innings, scoring 53 off 34 balls*. He found an able partner in Anukul Roy (29 off 16), and together they stitched a match-winning 76-run stand. Needing 28 from the last 18 balls, Rinku stayed calm under pressure, hitting crucial boundaries to seal the 4-wicket win.
Key Match Statistics
Best Batter: Rinku Singh (53* off 34 balls)
Best Bowler: Varun Chakaravarthy (3/14 in 4 overs)
Impact Performance: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (46 off 28 balls)
Turning Point: Rinku Singh being dropped on 8 by Shimron Hetmyer.
This win is a massive morale booster for KKR, moving them off the bottom of the points table, while Rajasthan Royals will regret not capitalizing on their flying start.