In a script straight out of a fairytale, Kolkata Knight Riders ended their six-match losing streak in IPL 2026 with a thrilling four-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals in Match 28 at Eden Gardens on Sunday.
The victory has taken the Knight Riders from the foot of the points table, as Rinku Singh and spinners starred in their performance.
Chasing 156, KKR reached 161 for 6 in 19.4 overs, with Rinku Singh scripting the perfect redemption story.RR, having won the toss and elected to bat, got off to a flying start. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (46 off 28) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (39 off 29) powered them to 81 in the opening wicket.
But KKR's spin trio turned the game around. Varun Chakravarthy (3/14) and Sunil Narine (2/26) strangled the middle order, while Kartik
Tyagi's fiery 3/22 in the death overs restricted RR to 155/9. The visitors simply couldn't accelerate after the powerplay.
KKR's chase began disastrously. Tim Seifert and Ajinkya Rahane fell for ducks inside two overs. Cameron Green (27) and Rovman Powell (23) provided brief resistance, but at 85/6 in the 14th over, the game looked lost. Enter Rinku Singh, the man who had managed just 79 runs across five innings this season, repeatedly criticised for failing in crunch moments.
What followed was vintage Rinku. Walking in with 71 needed off 40 balls, the left-hander played with ice-cool composure and explosive power. He smashed five boundaries and two sixes in a match-winning 53 not out off just 34 deliveries, taking his team home.
KKR vs RR, IPL 2026: Rinku, Anukul Turned things Around for KKR
In a 50-run seventh-wicket stand with Anukul Roy (29* off 16), Rinku took the game deep before sealing it with two balls to spare. Roy's late cameo of two sixes provided the perfect finishing touch.
Rinku's knock wasn't just about numbers-it was about silencing the doubters. The 28-year-old, often hailed as India's next big finisher, finally delivered when his team needed him most. For a KKR side that looked broken after six straight defeats, this win and Rinku's redemption could be the turning point of their campaign.
