Vice-captain Rinku Singh scored an unbeaten half-century (53) on Sunday, April 19, to help Kolkata Knight Riders chase down the target of 155 runs in 19.4 overs and secure their first win of IPL 2026. In the fixture played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata against the Rajasthan Royals, KKR needed 9 runs in the last over to win, and Rinku scored back-to-back fours on the first two balls of Brijesh Sharma’s over to level the scores. On the fourth ball he then scored his second six of the match to complete his fifty as well as seal the deal for Ajinkya Rahane’s men.
The win over Rajasthan Royals not only helped KKR jump over Mumbai Indians and take 9th position in the IPL 2026 points table. But it has also kept their hopes alive of finishing in the top
four and qualifying for the IPL 2026 playoffs.
KKR have 3 points from seven matches played so far, and if they manage to win all of their remaining seven matches, then they will end the league stage with 17 points. A total of 17 points will be enough for KKR to finish in the top four and qualify for the playoffs.
Had KKR suffered against RR, they would have ended the season with a maximum of 15 points. In the 2025 edition of IPL, Delhi Capitals amassed a total of 15 points from 14 matches, but it was not enough for them to finish in the top four.
KKR’s results in IPL 2026
| DATE | RESULT | MARGIN | AGAINST | VENUE |
| March 29 | Defeat | 6 wickets | Mumbai Indians | Mumbai (WS) |
| April 2 | Defeat | 65 runs | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Kolkata |
| April 6 | No result | – | Punjab Kings | Kolkata |
| April 9 | Defeat | 3 wickets | Lucknow Super Giants | Kolkata |
| April 14 | Defeat | 32 runs | Chennai Super Kings | Chennai |
| April 17 | Defeat | 5 wickets | Gujarat Titans | Ahmedabad |
| April 19 | Win | 4 wickets | Rajasthan Royals | Kolkata |
KKR’s upcoming matches
KKR will play their eighth match of IPL 2026 now on Sunday (April 25) against Lucknow Super Giants at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. Their ninth match is against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad on May 3, and in their 10th fixture, they will be up against Delhi Capitals at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on May 8.
KKR’s upcoming matches in IPL 2026
| DATE | DAY | AGAINST | VENUE | START TIME (IST) |
| April 26 | Sunday | Lucknow Super Giants | Lucknow | 07:30 PM |
| May 3 | Sunday | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Hyderabad | 03:30 PM |
| May 8 | Friday | Delhi Capitals | Delhi | 07:30 PM |
| May 13 | Wednesday | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Raipur | 07:30 PM |
| May 16 | Saturday | Gujarat Titans | Kolkata | 07:30 PM |
| May 20 | Wednesday | Mumbai Indians | Kolkata | 07:30 PM |
| May 24 | Sunday | Delhi Capitals | Kolkata | 07:30 PM |
KKR’s 11th league match of the ongoing season of the IPL is scheduled against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Raipur on May 13. And Rahane’s men will play their last three league matches at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on May 16, 20 and 24 against Gujarat Titans, Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals, respectively.
