Kolkata Knight Riders won by 4 wickets with two balls to spare against Rajasthan Royals in Match 28 of the Indian Premier League, with Varun Chakravarthy setting up the result through a superb 3 for 14 from four overs. Rinku Singh then anchored the chase with a fluent 53 off 34 balls as KKR reached 161 for 6 in 19.4 overs.
The result handed KKR an important win in a league stage that had already seen Rajasthan Royals start strongly, with RR among the early pace-setters after victories in Matches 3, 9, 13 and 16. For Kolkata, this was a timely response in Match 28 of 70, and with plenty still to come in the tournament, the points table race remains tightly packed rather than settled by this outcome.
Rajasthan’s innings began brightly enough through their in-form top order. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continued his outstanding tournament with 46 from 28 balls, striking six fours and two sixes, while Yashasvi Jaiswal made 39 from 29 with four fours and two sixes. Their intent gave RR early momentum, but Kolkata’s spin choke changed the shape of the innings.
Once the opening stand was broken, RR could not maintain the same tempo. Dhruv Jurel managed 5 from 7, Riyan Parag made 12 from 14, and Shimron Hetmyer was held to 15 from 18 in an innings that never fully kicked on in the middle overs. Donovan Ferreira’s 7 from 7, Ravindra Jadeja’s 9 from 7 and Jofra Archer’s 8 from 5 provided only brief late impulses as Rajasthan finished on 155 for 9.
Varun Chakravarthy was the standout bowler on either side, returning 3 for 14 in his four overs at a remarkable economy rate of 3.50. He was backed smartly by Kartik Tyagi, who picked up 3 for 22 in four overs, while Sunil Narine chipped in with 2 for 26. Together, they dragged Rajasthan back from a position where 170-plus had looked realistic.
KKR’s chase, though successful, was anything but straightforward. Tim Seifert fell first ball for 0, Ajinkya Rahane followed for 0 from 2, and Angkrish Raghuvanshi struggled for rhythm in his 10 from 19. At 10 for 2 and then under further pressure, Kolkata needed someone to change the tempo immediately.
Cameron Green did exactly that with a counterattacking 27 from just 13 balls, hitting four fours and a six. His innings gave the chase momentum, and Rovman Powell’s 23 from 20 helped stabilise things through a tricky middle phase. But the most important contribution came from Rinku Singh, who paced the pursuit beautifully with 53 from 34 balls, striking five fours and two sixes.
Rinku’s knock ensured KKR stayed close to the asking rate even as Rajasthan’s bowlers kept creating chances. Ravindra Jadeja nearly turned the match with an exceptional spell of 2 for 8 from three overs, while Yash Raj Punja claimed 1 for 25 and Nandre Burger took 1 for 20. Archer also struck once, finishing with 1 for 35.
The final decisive push came from Anukul Roy, whose unbeaten 29 from 16 balls proved invaluable. With one four and two sixes, he supplied the late acceleration that took the pressure off the lower order. Ramandeep Singh’s 10 from 13 was a supporting contribution, but it was Roy’s finishing hand alongside Rinku’s earlier control that got KKR over the line at 161 for 6 in 19.4 overs.
The turning point of the match was Rajasthan’s slowdown after the openers. Sooryavanshi and Jaiswal had laid a platform, yet the middle order combined for modest returns and KKR’s spinners never allowed release. Chasing 156, Kolkata made hard work of it after the early double strike, but their middle-order depth carried them through.
Key performers
Kolkata Knight Riders: Rinku Singh 53 (34), Anukul Roy 29* (16), Cameron Green 27 (13); Varun Chakravarthy 3/14 (4), Kartik Tyagi 3/22 (4), Sunil Narine 2/26 (4).
Rajasthan Royals: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 46 (28), Yashasvi Jaiswal 39 (29); Ravindra Jadeja 2/8 (3), Yash Raj Punja 1/25 (4), Nandre Burger 1/20 (2).
NerdSports Stat: KKR were 10 for 2 after three batters and still completed the chase with two balls left, while Varun Chakravarthy’s 3 for 14 meant RR scored at only 3.5 an over against the Player of the Match in an innings that finished 11 runs short of KKR’s eventual total.
In the wider IPL schedule, this was Match 28 of 70, extending the league narrative rather than deciding anything outright. Earlier in the tournament, RR had built momentum with multiple wins, while KKR needed a result to keep pace in the mid-season squeeze. The competition moves on quickly, with Punjab Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants still to come later on Sunday, followed by Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians on Monday and Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi Capitals on Tuesday. KKR’s next fixture is against Lucknow Super Giants on Sunday, April 26, while Rajasthan Royals next face Lucknow on Wednesday, April 22.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kolkata Knight Riders won the match by 4 wickets with 2 balls remaining.
Varun Chakravarthy was named Player of the Match for his 3 for 14 from four overs.
This was Match 28 of 70 in the Indian Premier League, and KKR’s win keeps the league stage race moving with plenty of matches still to come.
Rinku Singh top-scored with 53 off 34 balls.
The next match in the series is Punjab Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants on Sunday, April 19.
