IPL 2026: Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 65 runs

Sunrisers Hyderabad is BACK. After losing their first match, SRH came to Kolkata and SMASHED the Kolkata Knight Riders by 65 runs. They scored 226 runs and then bowled out KKR for 161. Let me tell you everything that happened.

Match Summary

Brief Scores:

Sunrisers Hyderabad: 226/8 in 20 overs (Heinrich Klaasen 52 off 35, Abhishek Sharma 48 off 21, Nitish Kumar Reddy 39 off 24; Blessing Muzarabani 4/41, Vaibhav Arora 2/42)

Kolkata Knight Riders: 161 all out in 16 overs (Angkrish Raghuvanshi 52 off 29, Rinku Singh 35 off 25, Finn Allen 28 off 7; Jaydev Unadkat 3/21, Eshan Malinga 2/14, Nitish Kumar Reddy 2/17)

SRH won by 65 runs.

SRH Batting – POWER HITTING Everywhere.

KKR won the toss and put SRH to bat first. BIG MISTAKE.

Opening BLAST

Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma started like BULLETS:

2 overs: 22/0

3rd over vs Vaibhav Arora: 21 runs. Total 43/0

5th over vs Varun Chakravarthy: 25 runs. (Most runs Varun conceded in an over EVER.)

Varun Chakravarthy’s over: Abhishek hit 2 sixes, 2 fours – 25 runs. Varun looked like he wanted to CRY.

Opening partnership: 82 runs in 6 overs. Then Travis Head out for 46 off 21 balls (6 fours, 3 sixes).

Powerplay score: 84/1 – SRH’s THIRD highest powerplay score in IPL history.

Abhishek Sharma’s innings: 48 runs off 21 balls – 4 fours, 4 sixes. He was hitting EVERYTHING. Then Blessing Muzarabani got him out.

Middle over COLLAPSE? SRH went from 82/0 to 123/4. Lost 4 wickets for 41 runs.

But then… Heinrich Klaasen & Nitish Reddy STEADY.

Nitish Reddy: 39 off 24 balls (4 fours, 1 six)

Heinrich Klaasen: 52 off 35 balls (4 fours, 1 six)

They added 60+ runs and took SRH to 200/4 in 18 overs

Death overs: Klaasen finished strongly. SRH made 226/8 in 20 overs.

Best bowler for KKR: Blessing Muzarabani – 4 wickets for 41 runs. But 226 was TOO BIG.

KKR Batting – STARTED Like ROCKETS, Ended Like PAPER.

KKR needed 227 runs to win. They started CRAZY.

POS	TEAM	PLAYED	WIN	POINTS
1	RR	1	1	2
2	RCB	1	1	2
3	DC	1	1	2
4	MI	1	1	2
5	PBKS	1	1	2
6	SRH	2	1	2
7	GT	1	0	0
8	LSG	1	0	0
9	KKR	2	0	0
10	CSK	1	0	0

Finn Allen’s 1st over vs David Payne: 25 runs. 3 fours, 2 sixes. The ball was FLYING.

Finn Allen’s innings: 28 runs in just 7 balls. That’s a strike rate of 400. Then Harsh Dubey bowled him. KKR 29/1 in 1.3 overs.

Angkrish Raghuvanshi SHINES. He scored 52 off 29 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes. He smashed Abhishek Sharma for 2 sixes and Harsh Dubey for a four.

Powerplay score: 74/3 – not BAD but not enough for 227.

Raghuvanshi + Rinku Singh partnership: 46 runs. Raghuvanshi got his 2nd FIFTY in a row (27 balls).

After Raghuvanshi got run out for 52, KKR LOST THEIR WAY:

Match Summary

Wicket	Score	Over
Raghuvanshi (run out)	120/4	11 overs
Anukul Roy	0	–
Rinku Singh	35	–
Sunil Narine	12 (4 balls)	–
Ramandeep Singh	10	–

Star Performers of the Match

Heinrich Klaasen (SRH) – 52 off 35 balls

He held the innings together after middle order collapse. He scored his 15th IPL fifty. He is SRH’s MOST RELIABLE batter.

Abhishek Sharma (SRH) – 48 off 21 balls

He DESTROYED Varun Chakravarthy for 25 runs in one over. He is in FORM after T20 World Cup success.

Jaydev Unadkat (SRH) – 3/21

Best bowling figures of match. He got KKR’s BEST batters – Rinku Singh and Raghuvanshi. He is 34 years old but still GOLD.

Angkrish Raghuvanshi (KKR) – 52 off 29 balls

Only KKR batter who looked comfortable. Back-to-back fifties for 22-year-old. Future SUPERSTAR.

Finn Allen (KKR) – 28 off 7 balls

Shortest innings but MOST EXCITING. 400 strike rate. If he stayed, KKR could have WON.

Setting standards with that performance 🫡 pic.twitter.com/FRDBAyMbXM
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) April 3, 2026

Ippude start ayindhi asalaina fire 🫳🔥 pic.twitter.com/8wpjTWMbgA
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) April 2, 2026

Records Broken

Abhishek Sharma – Most runs conceded by Varun Chakravarthy in an over (25) – tied with 2019 record.

SRH – Third highest powerplay score when setting total (84/1)

Blessing Muzarabani – First 4-wicket haul for KKR in IPL 2026

Angkrish Raghuvanshi – Back-to-back fifties in IPL for first time.

As the tournament progresses, teams will be looking to build momentum and strengthen their chances of lifting the trophy. In fact, if you’re wondering which side has the best shot at going all the way this season, check out our detailed analysis on why Royal Challengers Bengaluru could successfully defend their IPL title. It gives deeper insights into their squad strength, key players, and winning strategy for IPL 2026.

Why Royal Challengers Bengaluru can defend their IPL title?

What Players Said?

Heinrich Klaasen (Player of Match):

“We needed this win after losing the first match. The pitch was good for batting. I just tried to stay till the end. Unadkat bhai bowled brilliantly.”

Jaydev Unadkat:

“I have played many IPL seasons. Experience helps. I knew Rinku tried to hit over long-on. I bowled a slower ball and got him.”

Angkrish Raghuvanshi (KKR):

“Disappointing loss. We started well but lost too many wickets. I tried my best but couldn’t finish.”