Orange fade-out: Chakaravarthy and Raghuvanshi star in KKR’s Hyderabad heist

HYDERABAD: Former champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) reignited their campaign with a clinical seven-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Chasing a target of 166, the Men in Purple crossed the finish line in just 18.2 overs, losing only three wickets in a dominant display of power-hitting and composure.

KKR’s pursuit got off to a flyer as Captain Ajinkya Rahane (43 off 36) and the explosive Finn Allen (29 off 13) dismantled the new ball attack. The openers played with aggressive intent from the first delivery, ensuring KKR stayed ahead of the required rate.
The star of the show, however, was youngster Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who anchored the innings with a top score of 59 off 47 balls. To apply the finishing touches, the reliable Rinku Singh (22* off 11) and Cameron Green (3* off 3) remained unbeaten, guiding Kolkata to a vital two points. This win takes KKR to seven points from nine matches.

Earlier in the evening, Hyderabad looked set for a mammoth total. Australian powerhouse Travis Head blazed his way to a half-century (61 off 28), and with Ishan Kishan (42 off 29) firing at the other end, SRH cruised past the 100-run mark before the ninth over.

Despite Abhishek Sharma (15 off 10) falling early, the momentum was firmly with the hosts—until the collapse. The tide turned abruptly following the dismissals of Head and Heinrich Klaasen (11 off 8).

KKR’s spin wizard Varun Chakaravarthy triggered the landslide with a brilliant three-wicket haul. He was expertly supported by Sunil Narine and Kartik Tyagi, who claimed two wickets apiece to dismantle the Hyderabad middle order and restrict them to a sub-par total.