KKR Vs RR Highlights, IPL 2026: Rinku Singh Leads Kolkata Knight Riders To First Win Of Season

Hello cricket fans! We're here to make your Sunday even special with the live coverage of match 28 of IPL 2026 between Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals at the Eden Gardens on Sunday, April 19. Stay tuned for the live score and play-by-play updates of the match.

Match: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals

Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Time: 3:30 PM IST

While we gear up for the IPL 2026 match between KKR and RR, recent developments suggest that Chennai Super Kings have suffered a big blow as Ayush Mhatre has suffered a hamstring tear. CSK batting coach Mike Hussey confirmed the news.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have received a significant boost with the arrival of Sri Lankan pace sensation Matheesha Pathirana, who officially joined the squad on Sunday, April 19, 2026. The 23-year-old slinger, acquired for a staggering INR 18 crore in the auction, had been sidelined for the first six matches of the season while recovering from a calf injury sustained during the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Having finally secured his No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from Sri Lanka Cricket, Pathirana is expected to provide much-needed stability to a KKR death-bowling attack that has struggled during their winless start to the campaign.

While he linked up with the team just before their afternoon clash against the Rajasthan Royals at Eden Gardens, team management is likely to assess his match fitness in training before drafting him into the starting XI.

The Kolkata Knight Riders have endured a nightmare start to IPL 2026, currently languishing at the bottom of the points table as the only winless team after six matches. Their campaign has been crippled by a disastrous powerplay bowling performance, where they have conceded runs at an economy of 12.04 while managing just three wickets in the first six overs across the season.

Matters have been worsened by a jerky batting unit that averages a league-low 154.5 runs per innings, failing to capitalize on individual flashes of brilliance from Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Cameron Green. Under the leadership of Ajinkya Rahane, the team has faced sharp criticism for a lack of game awareness and tactical rigidity, particularly in failing to use their elite spinners aggressively to stem the flow of runs before matches slip out of reach.

Rajasthan Royals have won the toss and elected to bat first at the Eden Gardens.

Kolkata Knight Riders: Ajinkya Rahane(c), Tim Seifert(w), Cameron Green, Rovman Powell, Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Vaibhav Arora, Kartik Tyagi, Varun Chakaravarthy

Rajasthan Royals: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel(w), Riyan Parag(c), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi

Rajasthan Royals Impact Subs: Sandeep Sharma, Shubham Dubey, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Ravi Singh, Yash Punja

Kolkata Knight Riders Impact Subs: Manish Pandey, Finn Allen, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Tejasvi Dahiya, Navdeep Saini

We are underway!

Yashasvi Jaiswal is on strike, settling into his stance with that familiar calm intensity. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is right there with him at the other end, watching every move, ready to respond instantly.

Vaibhav Arora has the new ball in hand and starts the proceedings, charging in to open the attack. Early movement, early intent, and the game wastes no time in getting into rhythm.

First over of the day is up for grabs.

Vaibhav Arora starts off with a loose one and gets punished immediately! Short, angling across, but there’s no room for error at this level.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi rocks back, rides the bounce beautifully, and absolutely hammers it through sweeper cover. No hesitation, no half-measures, just clean timing and pure intent as the ball races away to the fence for FOUR.

Cameron Green misses his mark and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi makes him pay, and how.

Right in the slot, outside off, just begging to be hit. Sooryavanshi barely moves his feet, stays rooted, picks it up sweetly and launches it straight down the ground. Clean strike, full extension, and it sails all the way, SIX.

It never really came down, just thudded into the ropes on the full as the crowd lifts in approval. Rajasthan Royals are flying now, and the stand between Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal is already up to 55 and growing with real authority.

Sunil Narine tosses it up outside off, and Yashasvi Jaiswal makes it look easy. He reaches out, opens the face of the bat, and times it sweetly through deep extra cover. The gap was there and he found it to perfection, the ball just races away to the fence for FOUR as Rajasthan Royals keep the scoreboard ticking in style.

Varun Chakaravarthy strikes and breaks the flow for Rajasthan Royals.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was looking in full rhythm on 46 off 28, peppered with 6 fours and 2 sixes, but this time he can’t clear the rope. Chakaravarthy pulls the length back just enough to force the mistake, and Sooryavanshi goes for it, only to find Ramandeep Singh stationed perfectly in the deep.

A clean catch, a timely breakthrough, and Sooryavanshi’s promising knock comes to an end. KKR finally have something to cheer about.

Ramandeep Singh starts his spell with a change of pace, going slower and short right away. Yashasvi Jaiswal is a touch early into the shot, but does well to adjust, rolling his wrists and swatting it down towards square leg. Just a single as the fielder cuts it off quickly, keeping things tight in the ring.

Varun Chakaravarthy tosses it up outside off, tempting the shot, but Yashasvi Jaiswal stays composed. He gets down low in a flash, reads the flight perfectly, and rolls his wrists through a controlled sweep.

The ball travels neatly in front of square on the on-side, but there’s no real damage done, just a single as the fielders quickly close in.

Varun Chakaravarthy gives it air just outside off and invites the shot, but Riyan Parag stays patient. He waits on it, lets it come onto the bat, and then gently works it into the gap wide of mid-wicket. Nothing risky, nothing rushed, just a calm push into the open spaces as he rotates strike for a single.

Strategic break has arrived at just the right moment, and KKR will be the happier side walking off the field. Their spin twins have really pulled things back, strangling the scoring and making life tough in the middle overs.

The boundaries have completely dried up, the pressure has built steadily, and Rajasthan Royals have suddenly lost three quick wickets in the squeeze. Momentum has definitely shifted, KKR have clawed their way back into the contest.

Varun Chakaravarthy does it again, right through the gate!

He drifts one in and gets it to grip just enough, and Riyan Parag is beaten all ends up. Playing for the turn, but the ball skids on straighter, sneaks past the bat, and crashes into the stumps. Clean, clinical, and absolutely decisive.

Parag walks back for 12 off 14, just one boundary in his stay, and KKR’s spin choke tightens even further.

Vaibhav Arora goes for the slower bouncer, trying to outfox Shimron Hetmyer, but it just doesn’t land right. It climbs too high, loops harmlessly over the batter’s head, and the umpire immediately stretches the arms, wide called.

Hetmyer doesn’t even have to move much there, just watches it sail through as KKR give away a needless extra.

Kartik Tyagi strikes, and Rajasthan Royals are slipping further into trouble!

He hits the deck and gets just enough on it to force the mistake. Shimron Hetmyer goes for the shot but doesn’t get the timing right, it holds up slightly, takes the top edge/leading edge, and balloons into the air. Angkrish Raghuvanshi settles under it and makes no mistake.

Hetmyer walks back for 15 off 18, and KKR’s squeeze through the middle overs is turning into a full-blown choke.

RR posted 155-9 in their 20 overs, a total that feels underwhelming after a blazing start. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal powered an 81-run opening stand at a rapid pace, but once that ended, the innings completely fell apart.

Kolkata Knight Riders’ spinners took over, with Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine choking the scoring through the middle overs and triggering a collapse. The middle order failed to fire again, with Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, and Dhruv Jurel all falling short, while Donovan Ferreira also struggled against Narine.

KKR were disciplined and ruthless with the ball, and will back themselves to chase 156 comfortably.

Nandre Burger misses his length again, and Cameron Green is making him pay in style!

It’s not overly short, but there’s width on offer and that’s all Green needs. He stays nice and low, frees his arms, and carves it square through the off side with pure timing. Same region as the last one, same result, the ball races away for back-to-back FOURS. Momentum starting to swing now.

Ravi Bishnoi tries to drag it down leg, but this turns into absolute chaos, and brilliance.

Cameron Green charges down the track looking to continue the assault, but Bishnoi’s googly drifts even further down leg. It’s messy for Dhruv Jurel too, who is momentarily blinded by the batter’s movement, but he reacts in a flash. He dives sharply to his left, gathers the ball one-handed, and in the same motion fires a direct hit at the stumps.

Green is stranded halfway down the pitch with no chance to recover. A sharp piece of glovework, sharp presence of mind, and KKR have their breakthrough. Cameron Green walks back for 27 off just 13, including 4 fours and a six, and what a moment from Jurel behind the stumps.

Yash Raj Punja offers width, and Rovman Powell doesn’t need a second invitation.

It’s there to be hit and Powell cashes in instantly, throwing his hands at it and carving it crisply through the off side. No fuss, no hesitation, just clean striking as the ball races away to the boundary for FOUR.

Strategic timeout taken, and this one is finely balanced!

KKR know exactly what’s needed now, a steady partnership, no panic, and just a bit of control after a flurry of wickets and momentum swings. The platform is there, but the game is still very much alive. These next few overs could decide who takes command heading into the final stretch.

Ravi Bishnoi tosses it up full and outside off, but Ramandeep Singh is in no mood to miss out.

He leans into the delivery, bends that back leg beautifully, and opens up the off side with a gorgeous strike. Pure timing, clean hands, and it splits the gap through extra cover perfectly. The ball races away to the boundary for FOUR, and that’s a classy response under pressure.

Yash Raj Punja gets his first in IPL cricket, and it’s a big one!

He goes slightly quicker, full and outside off, tempting Ramandeep Singh into the drive. Ramandeep leans across, looks for the gap, but only manages an inside edge that crashes back onto the stumps. Dragged on!

Ramandeep stands there in disbelief as the bails are dislodged. A dream moment for Yash Raj Punja, his maiden IPL wicket, and KKR keep tightening the screws. Ramandeep Singh walks back for 10 off 13, and the pressure just keeps piling on.

Jofra Archer comes in from round the wicket and starts the over with pace, but Rinku Singh is ready for it.

It’s a short one, and Rinku gets right inside the line, picks up the slower variation early, and helps it on its way with a controlled hook. Over short fine leg it goes, bouncing once before rolling into the fence. A confident start to the over, FOUR for KKR.

Brijesh Sharma bangs it in short, but Rinku Singh has the final word, and KKR have their first win of the season.

Rinku swivels on it in a flash, gets into perfect position, and nails the hook over fine leg. It keeps rising, keeps sailing, and disappears into the stands, SIX. What a moment for him too, as he brings up a brilliant fifty in style. Pure emotion, pure relief in the KKR camp as they finally get over the line.

That’s it, Kolkata Knight Riders finally break the deadlock and pick up their first win of the season. A chase of 156 that looked comfortable early on turned tricky in the middle overs, but Rinku Singh stayed calm under pressure and finished it off with real composure when it mattered most.

That’s a wrap! We’ll be back with another live blog soon, until then, bye bye.