Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals Match Highlights & Results

Closing out the weekend - Kolkata Knight Riders complete the set, and all 10 teams now have at least one win on the board. Also, for now, KKR even move ahead of Mumbai Indians in the points table. Rajasthan Royals have a bit to ponder upon as this is their second loss in as many games and they will look to bounce back stronger. Let's now turn our attention to Mullanpur, where the unbeaten Punjab Kings are going up against Lucknow Super Giants in the final game of the weekend. Lucknow have elected to bowl first in that one, and you can simply switch tabs to catch our coverage of that game. Cheers!

POTM - Varun Chakaravarthy! Varun Chakaravarthy is given the award for his fine figures of 4-0-14-3. Varun starts by saying that before talking about himself, he wants to talk about the coaching staff, who shut out the outside noise and helped the players keep their focus. Adds that he didn't do anything special in this game, and it is more about the pitches and also cites that he was a bit injured in the opening few matches. Goes on to say that the wicket was a bit on the slower side and they could have batted a bit better. Further mentions that they are here to stay competitive and fight for the trophy.

The captain of Kolkata Knight Riders - Ajinkya Rahane says he is happy with the win. Adds that there were a lot of emotions in the dugout. He singles out Varun Chakaravarthy, who had been going through a difficult phase but says he has bowled well across the last three games. He is equally pleased for Rinku Singh, who he says had been dealing with a tough period mentally, and seeing him finish the game means a lot. On Anukul Roy, Rahane notes he had a fantastic domestic season and while he couldn't bowl today due to the left-handers, the way he batted was something that made him very happy. On his conversations with the players, Rahane shares that he prefers one-on-one chats and that the coaching staff has been consistently engaging with the group. Tells that the key is reading situations well and keeping the game simple. He notes that the bowlers have come into their own over the last three games, operating well in groups, and while he accepts the batting needs improvement, he feels there were plenty of positives to take from the win. On Tyagi, Rahane mentions that he has been clear about his own ability and that kind of self-awareness he has at such a young age is impressive. Adds that the pace Tyagi has been generating is remarkable and that he has been delighted to see him growing in confidence. Tells that there is always something to learn from every game and that is where cricketing awareness develops. On the batting, Rahane says there is plenty to learn and is candid about the Powerplay struggles over the last few games. He says that strike rate can be overrated and that on surfaces like this, rotating strike through singles and doubles is more important than going after big hits. He admits they made errors in the last couple of games. With five days before the next game, he says the group needs to reflect, be honest with each other and communicate clearly. He is quick to add that the atmosphere in the dressing room remains excellent. On the support from the fans, Rahane says they have been fantastic through a difficult run of five games and that this win belongs to them.

... The Presentation ceremony ...

Let's now quickly recap the first innings - Rajasthan Royals won the toss and Riyan Parag had no hesitation in batting first. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal started in fine fashion yet again, putting on 81 runs for the first wicket. However, once Sooryavanshi got out, it triggered a mini collapse. Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy were at their breathtaking best, picking up 5 wickets between them, and then Kartik Tyagi showed promise with a three-wicket haul himself. Barring the openers, only two more RR batters got into double digits and they simply couldn't get to a total that looked defendable.

The man of the moment, Rinku, has his say - Rinku Singh starts by saying that one does get a bit frustrated when the runs aren't coming by, but his mindset was to take the game deep. On his attempted reverse hit after Powell got out, he says that sometimes the brain freezes but thankfully, the catch was put down and he managed to take his team over the line. Rinku further mentions that he can bat throughout the order and whenever he gets to bat, he tries to give his best. Adds that this win will give them a lot of coonfidence as it is the first one of the season and hopes that they can build on it.

Let's now hear from the RR skipper - On the target, Riyan Parag admits that they were well under par on a 170 wicket and says it was their game. Also accepts that they made a few silly errors in the fielding, which cost them and also stresses that they can't bowl lines that favor the batters. On the bowling decisions, Parag details that the surface was extracting a lot for spin and the way Bishnoi and Yash Punja bowled, it convinced him that was the way to go. He acknowledges it didn't fully come off but felt the plan itself worked, with a few errors in execution ultimately costing them the two points. On when he decided to bring Brijesh into the attack, Parag shares that Brijesh was close to bowling the 14th and 16th overs but two wickets fell and two left-handers came in, which changed the equation. He backs his spinners and says that they were in good rhythm and got the wickets the team needed. Further details that once Bishnoi's spell was done, he sensed the spinners could get targeted and adjusted from there. On Yash Punja, Parag says he has complete faith in everyone who pulls on a Royals shirt. Adds that Punja showed some nerves in his first over but settled well and if he keeps bowling those tough overs, there is every chance he develops into a fine bowler for the franchise.

The Royals almost pull it off - It had to be something special if Rajasthan Royals were to win this game and they almost got it as well. Jofra Archer set the tone with a wicket on the very first ball of the chase and Nandre Burger made it a double whammy, as he picked up a wicket in the next over as well. The game then ebbed and flowed a bit, but the Rajasthan spinners kept on chipping away at the wickets. Ravindra Jadeja finally found his rhythm as debutant Yash Punja bowled four solid overs as well, but that one big blemish in the field from Nandre Burger cost them dearly. The pacers came back into the picture late in the game, but couldn't get that decisive breakthrough to seal the game.

Rinku the saviour for KKR - All the good work done in the first innings by the bowlers was almost undone by the batters, but Rinku Singh and Anukul Roy have pulled it off. Rinku will get most of the applause and rightly so, but tip your hat off to Roy, who used all his domestic experience and gave Rinku that confidence from the other end by picking up crucial boundaries. It was a 76-run stand for the 7th wicket that got the job done for Kolkata but their top order left a lot to be desired. Both openers were dismissed for a duck and while there was some fight from the likes of Cameron Green and Rovman Powell in the middle order, KKR had dug themselves a big hole.

Stop the count, KKR have won a game - It's only taken them 7 games this season, but finally, the Knight Riders have a 'W' against their name, and what a morale-boosting win this could prove to be for them. Fair play to the Royals for making a real match out of it, but they were always 15-20 runs short.

Brijesh Sharma to Rinku Singh, Six!SIX! Rinku Singh ends KKR's drought of wins this season. Brijesh bangs it in short and around leg, at shoulder height. Rinku gets underneath it, swivels, and pulls it extremely fine over long leg. Just enough to clear the rope for a six. With this, Rinku gets off to his FIFTY and brings his A-game when needed the most. Remember, he was dropped by Burger while batting on 8 runs, and one would now feel that was the turning point of the game. Regardless, a knock of high quality from Rinku Singh. KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS WIN BY 4 WICKETS!

Brijesh Sharma to Rinku Singh, No run.Full and outside leg. Rinku swings and misses, takes it on the pad. Anukul is already charging through for a single but is sent back in a hurry. Brijesh collects in his follow-through but holds his throw. Anukul dives at the non-striker's end just in case. Dot ball.

Brijesh Sharma to Rinku Singh, Four!FOUR! That is Rinku at his very best. Full and angled across outside off. Rinku drives hard on the front foot over cover, finds the middle, and it bounces through to the fence. SCORES ARE LEVEL NOW!

Brijesh Sharma to Rinku Singh, Four!FOUR! Is that the game for KKR? Brijesh errs in line and length both. This is short with pace taken off, and angled onto the leg stump. Rinku Singh waits for the ball to arrive and pulls it behind square to the deep fine leg fence for a boundary.

Will Riyan Parag stick to Brijesh Sharma? He went for just 7 runs in the 18th over, and RR have 8 runs to play with. Anything more, and they will lose the game. Yes, Parag does stick to Brijesh Sharma ahead of Nandre Burger.

Jofra Archer to Anukul Roy, 2 runs.Excellent bit of running between the wickets! Archer fires in a full toss, almost knee-high, around off. Anukul Roy is late on the shot due to excessive pace and can only drill it in the mid off region. However, the fielders are in the deep on the off side and by the time the long off fielder could charge in, they cross over for two runs.

Just a bit of a hold up here as everyone seems to be struggling with the heat and the dew. Anukul Roy takes off his gloves as Archer brings out the towel as well.

Jofra Archer to Rinku Singh, 1 run.Fires in fuller and on the off pole. Rinku Singh shovels it out toward deep point for a single only.

Jofra Archer to Anukul Roy, 1 run.With long off pushed back now, this is a defensive yorker, outside off. Roy carves it to the sweeper cover for a single.

Jofra Archer to Anukul Roy, Six!SIX! That will bring a lot more relief in that KKR dugout! Misses the yorker by just a bit, does Archer. It is full in the slot, on off. Anukul Roy gets his bat under the ball, stands firm, backs his power and muscles it over the long off fence for a cracking six. 13 needed off 9 balls now.

Jofra Archer to Rinku Singh, 1 run.Attempted yorker, around off. Rinku cannot get under it cleanly and heaves it off the toe end to long on for a single.

Jofra Archer to Anukul Roy, 1 run.Cannons in full and on middle, almost a yorker, at around 150 kph. Anukul Roy clears the front leg and crashes it to mid off's left, but the fielder, Riyan Parag, is quick to dive across in that direction and cuts it off nicely. One taken.

Two overs left, 21 needed for KKR. Will Jofra Archer bowl the penultimate over or will we see Nandre Burger have a go? It will be the more-experienced Archer to bowl the crucial over.

Brijesh Sharma to Anukul Roy, 1 run.Full and straight on off. Anukul Roy carves it to the long off fielder for a single. The 50-run partnership comes up between Rinku and Anukul.

Brijesh Sharma to Anukul Roy, Four!FOUR! Crucial runs for KKR! Frustration creeping in for the Royals. Short ball, on leg, Rinku backs away and looks to swat-pull. Gets a bottom edge onto his back thigh instead, and the ball deflects and beats Jurel diving to his left. Races away to the fence behind.

Brijesh Sharma to Rinku Singh, 1 run.Nicely bowled again. Brijesh follows the batter as Rinku moves past the leg stump, and swipes it away to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Brijesh Sharma to Rinku Singh, No run.Lands it short outside leg again, does Sharma. Rinku walks across the stumps and goes for the pull, catches the toe end, and it skips through to Jurel on the bounce.

Brijesh Sharma to Rinku Singh, Wide!WIDE! This one is clearly an extra. Over-the-head short ball, wide outside off. Rinku lets it be. Wide called.

Brijesh Sharma to Rinku Singh, No run.Drama! Pitched on a length outside leg. Rinku sits down and swings across and misses. Not called a wide again. It actually passed very close to the leg stump as well.

Brijesh Sharma to Rinku Singh, No run.Pitched outside leg on a good length. Rinku shuffles to the off side, and tries to glance it fine on the leg side, but misses. No wide given again and Rinku is left flummoxed by that. But they cannot review as KKR have no reviews remaining. Kumar Dharmasena cites that Rinku moved a bit too much across the stumps.

RR have used just two pacers till now. However, the third pacer, Brijesh Sharma, comes on to bowl now, for the first time in this game, against a red-hot Rinku Singh. Tough ask for Brijesh, let's see how he fares.

Jofra Archer to Anukul Roy, No run.The Knight Riders lose a review! Slams the deck very hard at pace, short and it seemingly goes over the head height of the batter. Roy rises on the toes and tries to ramp it over short third but misses. No wide given and Anukul has challenged the on-field decision. Ball Tracking with a side on replay shows that the ball is slightly below the head height and is deemed a fair delivery. But an expensive over from RR's frontline paceman, Archer. 12 runs from it. KKR need 28 runs from the last 3 overs.

Jofra Archer to Rinku Singh, 1 run.Slips in a thigh-high full toss, on the pads. Rinku whips it to the long on region for a single.

Jofra Archer to Anukul Roy, 1 run.Nails the yorker in, on middle. Roy's head falls over but he manages to flick it to widish deep square leg for a single.

Jofra Archer to Rinku Singh, 1 run.Drags the length back by a yard or so, around off. Rinku Singh slices it behind point for a single.

Jofra Archer to Rinku Singh, Four!FOUR! Excellent timing and placement! Rinku is teeing off now. Archer lands it full and slow, on off, slanting back in. Rinku Singh finds the ball in his slot. Gets on the front foot and lofts it over and between mid off and extra cover for a boundary. 31 needed from 22 balls.

Jofra Archer to Rinku Singh, Wide!WIDE! Loosener again as this is pushed far down the leg stump, on a fuller length. Rinku misses the flick. Archer will have to reload this one.

Jofra Archer to Rinku Singh, Four!FOUR! Helped on its way. Not an ideal length by Archer with short fine and even short third up in the ring. Digs in a slower bumper, on the bodyline, angling in from around the stump. Rinku Singh shuffles across, and pulls it over short fine leg for a boundary.

Pace is back on for the Royals. Jofra Archer (2-0-11-1) is back into the attack.

Ravi Bishnoi to Anukul Roy, Six!SIX! A massive over in the context of this game as Roy ends this with another biggie. Tossed up, full and wide outside off, Anukul Roy steps close to the pitch of the delivery and lofts this inside out over extra cover fence for a huge six. 29 runs from the last 2 overs for KKR.

Ravi Bishnoi to Rinku Singh, 1 run.Pushed through, on middle and leg, Rinku Singh flicks this through mid-wicket for a single.

Ravi Bishnoi to Anukul Roy, 1 run.Fuller, around off, Anukul Roy smashes this to sweeper cover for one.

Ravi Bishnoi to Anukul Roy, Wide!WIDE! Flighted, wide down the leg, Roy leaves it. Wide called by the umpire.

Ravi Bishnoi to Anukul Roy, 2 runs.Short and wide of off, Anukul Roy cuts this to the left of Shimron Hetmyer at sweeper cover for two.

Ravi Bishnoi to Rinku Singh, Leg bye.LEG BYE! Fired into the batter, around his pads. Rinku Singh gets it brushed off the thigh pad back to the keeper. Jurel fails to gather this and ends up deflecting this to short third for a leg bye.

Ravi Bishnoi to Rinku Singh, Wide!WIDE! Full and down the leg, Rinku Singh leaves. Wided.

Ravi Bishnoi to Rinku Singh, Six!SIX! Rinku's biggie brings life to this Eden Garden crowd. Tossed up, around middle and leg, Rinku Singh goes down on a knee and slog sweeps this right from the middle of his bat for a biggie towards the deep mid-wicket region. 100 COMES UP FOR KKR!

STRATEGIC BREAK! Time to exhale a bit. The Knights Riders have made a mockery of this chase so far, but they are still in it. Also, the Royals have been pretty good with the ball, whether it was the pacers up top, swinging it around, or the spinners completely choking the batters in the middle overs. With 59 needed off 30 balls, you would ideally give the chasing team the slight edge, but KKR don't have many wickets in hand. A lot rides on the shoulders of Rinku Singh at the moment. Can he pull off a heist here? Let's find out. Also, Ravi Bishnoi is back on to finish his spell.

Riyan Parag to Anukul Roy, 2 runs.Nerves! Tossed up, full on the leg stump. Roy goes inside out over extra cover but doesn't hit it cleanly enough. Ferreira charges in from long off, dives forward and stops it on the bounce, firing it back to Parag. Roy sets off for the second, gets halfway down, and Rinku sends him back very late. Parag collects wide of the stumps and fires at the wicket, but misses his shy at the bowling end. Seeing that, Roy scurries back for the second, and the overthrow hands them the run anyway.

Riyan Parag to Rinku Singh, 1 run.Pushed through on middle and leg, Rinku Singh gets it away off the inside edge to square leg for one.

Riyan Parag to Rinku Singh, Four!FOUR! Smashed down the ground. Tossed up, on middle and off, Rinku Singh jumps down the track and backs away a shade as well. Hits this over the bowler for a boundary down in front of the sight screen.

Riyan Parag to Rinku Singh, Wide!WIDE! Floated down the leg, Rinku Singh has a swipe at it but misses. Jurel gathers this behind the stumps, moving to his right and appeals for caught behind, but the umpire turns it down by signalling wide.

Riyan Parag to Anukul Roy, 1 run.Flighted, on off, Anukul Roy drives this to long off and rotates the strike.

Riyan Parag to Anukul Roy, No run.Under-cutter, around middle and leg. Anukul Roy tucks this straight to square leg for a dot.

Riyan Parag to Rinku Singh, 1 run.Parag comes around the stumps and bowls it down the leg. Rinku paddles this to short fine leg for one.

RR to continue with spin? Yes, but Riyan Parag brings himself into the attack now to bowl a bit of off-spin, citing two left-handers at the crease.

Yash Punja to Rinku Singh, 1 run.Floated around off, Rinku Singh cuts this around that backward point region and sneaks a run.

Yash Punja to Anukul Roy, 1 run.Short and around off, Anukul Roy cuts this to backward point for a single.

Yash Punja to Anukul Roy, No run.Tossed up, around leg, Anukul Roy looks to tuck this around square leg but gets beaten and is hit on the front pad.

KKR staring into the abyss right now and in comes Anukul Roy at number 8.

Yash Punja to Ramandeep Singh, OUT! b Yash Punja.OUT! CHOPPED ON​​​​​​! Maiden IPL wicket for Punja. Flighted, wide outside the off stump. Ramandeep Singh stretches to reach it by planting his back leg into the pitch, and looks to force the drive through cover, but gets an inside edge that rolls back onto the stumps. Yash Punja is off for a celebration as he gets his first-ever IPL scalp. Ramandeep is down on his knee, staring down at the pitch in disappointment, which pretty much sums things up for the hosts. Kolkata Knight Riders are 85/6, in the chase of 156 runs.

Yash Punja to Ramandeep Singh, No run.Googly, on off, Ramandeep Singh prods onto his front foot and keeps it out.

Yash Punja to Rinku Singh, 1 run.Flighted around middle and leg, Rinku Singh milks this to long on for one.

Ravi Bishnoi to Rinku Singh, 1 run.Quicker wrong'un around off, Rinku Singh dabs this in front of point and takes a quick single.

Ravi Bishnoi to Ramandeep Singh, 1 run.Pushed through, on middle and leg, Ramandeep Singh milks this through mid-wicket and rotates the strike.

Ravi Bishnoi to Ramandeep Singh, No run.Quicker one, full and on off. Ramandeep Singh pushes this off the inner half of his bat back to the bowler.

Ravi Bishnoi to Ramandeep Singh, Four!FOUR! That's a glorious hit! Flighted, around off, Ramandeep Singh gets his bodyweight shifted onto the front foot and drives this all along the ground through cover for a boundary.

Ravi Bishnoi to Rinku Singh, 1 run.Tossed up, around the pads, Rinku Singh flicks this to long on for one more.

Ravi Bishnoi to Ramandeep Singh, 1 run.Googly, on middle and off. Ramandeep Singh tucks this through mid-wicket for a single.

Yash Punja to Ramandeep Singh, 1 run.Dragged short and outside off, slapped away to deep point for a single.

Yash Punja to Ramandeep Singh, No run.Tossed up on off, blocked back to the bowler.

Yash Punja to Ramandeep Singh, No run.A full ball now, outside off and turns in as well. Singh smothers it away.

Yash Punja to Ramandeep Singh, No run.Beaten! Loopy delivery, lands it full and just outside off, Ramandeep Singh camps back to get behind the line of the ball, but it grips and just turns away, beating the outside edge.

Yash Punja to Rinku Singh, 1 run.Just short again! Short and outside the leg stump, the wrong'un turning away to finish on middle. Rinku pulls it to deep mid-wicket, but gets no timing and the ball dips on the fielder charging in off the ropes. Lands just short and is parried away for a single.

Yash Punja to Ramandeep Singh, 1 run.Short and wide, outside off. Ramandeep Singh rocks back and cuts it to deep backward point for a single.

Yash Punja is brought back into the attack.

Ravindra Jadeja to Rinku Singh, No run.DROPPED! Oh, no. Nandre Burger has put down a sitter. Jadeja bowls a wide one outside off, angling it in. Rinku Singh steps across to the off side and looks to power it across the line. He gets a top edge that goes high and comes down between the keeper and short third. The keeper runs after it, but he's more concerned with adjusting his helmet and it is Nandre Burger from short third who does get to it but just shells it. They get a single as well. Jadeja is absolutely livid with that lackadaisical effort. Could be a big moment in the game.

Ravindra Jadeja to Rinku Singh, No run.Play and a miss. Fired in, full and outside off, Rinku backs away to cut but the ball stays a bit low and zips past the willow.

Ravindra Jadeja to Ramandeep Singh, 1 run.Slightly into the pitch, on off and middle, jammed off the back foot and through wide mid-wicket for one more.

Ravindra Jadeja to Rinku Singh, 1 run.Fuller one around off, Rinku Singh brings out the reverse sweep but fails to get a decent connection and mistimes it to short third for a single.

Ravindra Jadeja to Ramandeep Singh, 1 run.Floated up on off, eased away through covers for a single.

Half the KKR side is back in the dugout as Ramandeep Singh walks out to replace Rovman Powell.

Ravindra Jadeja to Rovman Powell, OUT! c Donovan Ferreira b Ravindra Jadeja.OUT! CAUGHT! Rovman Powell was itching to get one away, but he has ended up throwing away his wicket. Ravindra Jadeja slows it up and lobs the ball up on middle and leg, on a good length as well. Powell clears the front leg and swings across the line but gets it high on the bat. The ball sails down to long on where Donovan Ferreira takes a straightforward catch. KKR have now lost half of their side on just 70 runs.

Halfway crossed. KKR are crawling at 70/4. The Rajasthan Royals were 95/1 at the same stage.

Ravi Bishnoi to Rovman Powell, 1 run.Straighter at the stumps, fairly full, nudged around the corner on the leg side for one. KKR are 70/4 after 10 overs, chasing 156 for the win.

Ravi Bishnoi to Rinku Singh, 1 run.Nagging length, drifting away from middle and leg, Rinku pushes at it but ends up chipping it into the leg side for a single.

Ravi Bishnoi to Rovman Powell, 1 run.Bowled flatter and just outside off, Powell rocks back and cuts it off the outside edge and wide of short third for a single.

Ravi Bishnoi to Rovman Powell, No run.A loopy delivery, floated full and wide outside off. Rovman Powell smashes it into the turf and drives it straight to Jadeja at extra cover. Another crowd catch as Jadeja lobs the ball in the air, mimicking a celebration.

Ravi Bishnoi to Rovman Powell, Wide!WIDE! Short and down the leg side, Powell misses the tickle and a wide is called.

Ravi Bishnoi to Rinku Singh, 1 run.Floated up around leg stump, Rinku stays on the back foot and works it between square leg and mid-wicket for a single.

Ravi Bishnoi to Rinku Singh, 2 runs.Not all that short, angled across off, Singh stays low and slams the cut to the right of deep point for a brace. Good fielding in the deep from Shimron Hetmyer.

STRATEGIC BREAK! A T20 classic at Eden Gardens. Well, one who has followed the IPL since inception would get what is being said here. Not a score of 200-plus, no bowlers being carted around, just a tensed exchange between bat and ball in the run chase of a middling total, with the ball ruling the roost. KKR are in desperate search for a stable partnership and would look upon Rinku Singh and Powell to bring in the calm. Powell has had runs, but Rinku has been kept quiet so far in this season and has a golden opportunity to play the rescuer for his team. The Royals have done really well with the ball so far and would further like to press on the opposition in this middle phase. Ravi Bishnoi to bowl after the break. He replaces Yash Punja.

Ravindra Jadeja to Rovman Powell, No run.Just 4 off the over, another tidy one from Ravindra Jadeja. A bit more flighted, full and outside off, Powell leans on and looks to pinch a quick single by easing it in front of point but doesn't get it.

Ravindra Jadeja to Rinku Singh, 1 run.Short and a tad wide outside off, cut away to deep point for a run.

Ravindra Jadeja to Rovman Powell, 1 run.Jadeja sees Powell coming down the pitch and shortens his length. This is bowled at the batter and Powell hoicks it away past square leg for one more.

Ravindra Jadeja to Rovman Powell, No run.Quicker through the air, fuller as well and just outside off. Rovman Powell jams the ball back into the pitch.

Ravindra Jadeja to Rinku Singh, 1 run.Slightly into the pitch, on middle and leg, Rinku waits for it before whipping it off the pads to deep mid-wicket for one more.

Ravindra Jadeja to Rovman Powell, 1 run.Fuller one, pushed down leg, Powell lunges and flicks it across to deep square leg for a single.

Bowling change? No, Ravindra Jadeja to continue...

Yash Punja to Rovman Powell, 1 run.Googly on a length, on off at 95.6 kph, spinning in. Powell tucks it behind square leg for one.