Kolkata Knight Riders Claim First IPL Victory with Rinku Singh's Stellar Performance

In an exciting IPL match, Kolkata Knight Riders achieved their first victory of the season by defeating Rajasthan Royals by four wickets. Rinku Singh's outstanding unbeaten 53 was pivotal in the chase, while the spin duo of Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine effectively restricted the Royals to a modest total. This match showcased thrilling performances and set the stage for an exciting season ahead.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 19, 2026, 19:54 IST

Kolkata Knight Riders Triumph Over Rajasthan Royals

Kolkata: In a thrilling encounter, Kolkata Knight Riders secured their inaugural win of the IPL season, overcoming Rajasthan Royals by four wickets on Sunday in Kolkata, thanks to an impressive unbeaten 53 from vice-captain Rinku Singh.

The spin bowling pair of Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine played a crucial role in limiting Rajasthan Royals to a total of 155 runs for nine wickets.

After winning the toss and choosing to bat, Rajasthan got off to a strong start with Yashasvi Jaiswal (39) and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (46) putting together a solid opening partnership, reaching 81 without loss in just 8.3 overs. However, the introduction of spin saw Chakaravarthy (3/14) and Narine (2/26) tighten the screws, leaving the Royals at 124 for 5 after 16 overs.

Shimron Hetmyer (15) and Riyan Parag (12) contributed but were unable to stabilize the innings as Kartik Tyagi (3/22) claimed three wickets, resulting in a subpar score.

In response, KKR faced early trouble, finding themselves at 5 for 2 within the second over and later losing their fifth wicket for just 70 runs in the 11th over.

Rinku Singh then anchored the innings, forming a crucial 76-run partnership off just 37 balls with Anukul Roy (29), ultimately leading KKR to victory with two balls remaining.

Match Summary:

Rajasthan Royals: 155 for 9 in 20 overs (Jaiswal 39, Sooryavanshi 46; Chakaravarthy 3/14, Tyagi 3/22, Narine 2/26).

Kolkata Knight Riders: 161 for 6 in 19.4 overs (Rinku 53 not out; Ravindra Jadeja 2/8).