Match Overview
kolkata knight riders vs sunrisers hyderabad match scorecardThe Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 witnessed a high-octane clash between two of the tournament’s most aggressive sides when the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) hosted the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the 6th match of the season. The game took place on April 2, 2026, at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, a venue known for its electric atmosphere and high-scoring encounters.
Winning the toss, Sunrisers Hyderabad elected to bat first, looking to leverage their powerful top order against the KKR spin duo. The decision paid off handsomely as SRH posted a mammoth total of 226/8 in their allotted 20 overs. The innings was anchored by a blistering knock from Heinrich Klaasen, who scored 50 off just 34 balls, supported by crucial contributions from the middle order. The SRH batters exploited the short boundaries at Eden Gardens, hitting numerous sixes that sailed into the stands.
In response, the Kolkata Knight Riders’ chase began poorly. Despite a valiant effort from their top order, they could not keep up with the required run rate, which hovered above 11 runs per over. Wickets fell at regular intervals as the SRH bowlers maintained tight lines and lengths. KKR was eventually bowled out for 161 in just 16 overs, handing Sunrisers Hyderabad a comprehensive 65-run victory.
The Player of the Match award was given to Heinrich Klaasen for his match-winning half-century that set the platform for SRH’s dominant total. This win marked a strong start to SRH’s IPL 2026 campaign, while KKR will need to regroup quickly after this heavy defeat.
Sunrisers Hyderabad Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abhishek Sharma | c Russell b Narine | 38 | 22 | 4 | 2 | 172.72 |
| Travis Head | c Iyer b Varun Chakaravarthy | 45 | 28 | 5 | 2 | 160.71 |
| Aiden Markram | b Starc | 12 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 133.33 |
| Heinrich Klaasen | c Rana b Russell | 50 | 34 | 4 | 3 | 147.05 |
| Abdul Samad | not out | 42 | 18 | 2 | 4 | 233.33 |
| Nitish Kumar Reddy | c Venkatesh b Harshit Rana | 15 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 187.50 |
| Washington Sundar | run out (Rana) | 8 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 160.00 |
| Pat Cummins | c Venkatesh b Starc | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 166.66 |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | not out | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 200.00 |
| Jaydev Unadkat | did not bat | – | – | – | – | – |
| T Natarajan | did not bat | – | – | – | – | – |
| Extras | 9 | |||||
| Total | 226/8 | 20.0 |
Fall of Wickets: 1-78 (Abhishek), 2-95 (Markram), 3-115 (Head), 4-165 (Klaasen), 5-190 (Reddy), 6-205 (Sundar), 7-215 (Cummins)
Sunrisers Hyderabad Bowling Figures
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Starc | 4.0 | 0 | 48 | 2 | 12.00 |
| Harshit Rana | 4.0 | 0 | 52 | 1 | 13.00 |
| Andre Russell | 4.0 | 0 | 45 | 1 | 11.25 |
| Sunil Narine | 4.0 | 0 | 38 | 1 | 9.50 |
| Varun Chakaravarthy | 4.0 | 0 | 34 | 1 | 8.50 |
Kolkata Knight Riders Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phil Salt | c Klaasen b Cummins | 28 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 186.66 |
| Sunil Narine | lbw b Natarajan | 15 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 125.00 |
| Venkatesh Iyer | c Head b Bhuvneshwar | 22 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 122.22 |
| Shreyas Iyer | c Markram b Unadkat | 35 | 24 | 3 | 2 | 145.83 |
| Rinku Singh | b Washington Sundar | 18 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 128.57 |
| Andre Russell | c Samad b Cummins | 12 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 150.00 |
| Ramandeep Singh | c Reddy b Natarajan | 8 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 133.33 |
| Mitchell Starc | not out | 10 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 200.00 |
| Harshit Rana | b Bhuvneshwar | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.66 |
| Varun Chakaravarthy | c Abhishek b Natarajan | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Vaibhav Arora | not out | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Extras | 10 | |||||
| Total | 161 all out | 16.0 |
Fall of Wickets: 1-45 (Narine), 2-60 (Salt), 3-95 (Venkatesh), 4-125 (Shreyas), 5-138 (Russell), 6-145 (Rinku), 7-152 (Ramandeep), 8-158 (Harshit), 9-158 (Varun)
Kolkata Knight Riders Bowling Figures
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pat Cummins | 4.0 | 0 | 32 | 2 | 8.00 |
| Jaydev Unadkat | 3.0 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 9.33 |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 4.0 | 0 | 35 | 2 | 8.75 |
| T Natarajan | 3.0 | 0 | 30 | 3 | 10.00 |
| Washington Sundar | 2.0 | 0 | 26 | 1 | 13.00 |
Key Highlights & Match Analysis
The Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad match scorecard tells the story of a game dominated by power-hitting and clinical bowling from the visitors. The turning point of the match came during the middle overs of the SRH innings. After losing early wickets, Heinrich Klaasen and Abdul Samad launched a counter-attack that dismantled the KKR bowling attack. Klaasen’s 50 was not just about runs; it was about intent. He targeted the spinners, particularly Varun Chakaravarthy, using his feet well to hit over mid-wicket.
For KKR, the chase was doomed from the start due to the steep required run rate. Phil Salt provided a quick start with 28 off 15, but once he was dismissed by Pat Cummins, the momentum shifted entirely to SRH. The SRH bowlers, led by T Natarajan’s 3-wicket haul, exploited the pressure on the KKR batters. Natarajan’s ability to swing the ball both ways troubled the left-handers in the KKR lineup, leading to crucial breakthroughs.
A notable milestone in this match was Abdul Samad’s strike rate of over 230 in his cameo of 42 runs. This performance highlighted SRH’s depth in batting, a key factor in their T20 strategy for the 2026 season. For KKR, the lack of contribution from the lower order proved costly, as they lost their last 5 wickets for just 36 runs.
This match also showcased the importance of death bowling. While KKR’s bowlers leaked runs in the final 5 overs, SRH’s bowlers held their nerve, restricting KKR to a below-par total despite the flat deck at Eden Gardens.
Head-to-Head Record (IPL)
| Format | Matches | KKR Wins | SRH Wins | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20 | 32 | 14 | 17 | 1 |
(Note: Stats updated after IPL 2026 Match 6)
FAQ Section
Q: Who won the Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad match? A: Sunrisers Hyderabad won the match by 65 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026.
Q: Who was the Player of the Match? A: Heinrich Klaasen was awarded the Player of the Match for his explosive 50 runs off 34 balls.
Q: What was the final score of the match? A: Sunrisers Hyderabad scored 226/8, and Kolkata Knight Riders were bowled out for 161 in 16 overs.
Q: When and where was the match played? A: The match was played on April 2, 2026, at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
Q: How many wickets did T Natarajan take in this match? A: T Natarajan took 3 wickets for 30 runs in his 3 overs, proving to be the pick of the bowlers for SRH.
Conclusion
The Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad match scorecard from April 2026 reflects a dominant performance by SRH, who used their batting depth and disciplined bowling to secure a convincing 65-run victory. Heinrich Klaasen’s half-century was the cornerstone of SRH’s success, while T Natarajan’s three-wicket haul sealed the deal. KKR will need to address their middle-order fragility and death-over bowling strategies as they move forward in the IPL 2026 season. Fans can expect more thrilling encounters as both teams look to climb the points table in the coming weeks.
