Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) produced a clinical all-round performance to dismantle the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by 65 runs at the iconic Eden Gardens. In what was a display of sheer batting power followed by disciplined bowling, SRH became the first team this season to successfully defend a total, breaking the tournament’s early trend of chasing sides winning every game.
DONE AND DUSTED! ✅
🎥 Jaydev Unadkat finishes in style and @SunRisers have their ✌️points 🧡
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/iCMFpDudP7#TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #KKRvSRH pic.twitter.com/54FBHNcWAz
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 2, 2026
The Powerplay Carnage: Head and Abhishek Set the Tone
After being put in to bat by KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane, the Sunrisers openers—Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma—wasted no time. The duo unleashed a brutal assault, racing to an 82-run opening stand in just 34 deliveries. Abhishek blazed his way to 48 off 21 balls, while Head provided a breathtaking 46 off 21.
Despite a brief collapse where SRH slipped from 111/1 to 118/4 due to a brilliant spell from KKR’s Blessing Muzarabani (4/41), the middle order found its savior in
Heinrich Klaasen.
Klaasen and Reddy Stabilize the Innings
Heinrich Klaasen showed why he is considered one of the most dangerous T20 batters, scoring a composed yet impactful 52 off 35 balls. He was ably supported by Nitish Kumar Reddy, who contributed a crucial 39 off 24 balls. Together, they shared an 82-run partnership for the fifth wicket, propelling SRH to a mammoth total of 226/8.
The Chase: KKR’s Collapse Under Pressure
Chasing 227, KKR started with a bang as Finn Allen smashed 28 runs off just 7 balls (strike rate of 400). However, his stay was cut short by young spinner Harsh Dubey.
Angkrish Raghuvanshi kept the hosts in the hunt with a fluid 52 off 29 balls, but a series of catastrophic miscommunications led to two crucial run-outs that broke the back of the KKR middle order. Rinku Singh fought a lonely battle with 35 off 25, but once he fell to Nitish Kumar Reddy, the result was a foregone conclusion.
Unadkat Wraps It Up
Veteran pacer Jaydev Unadkat delivered a defensive masterclass, utilizing his pace variations to perfection. He finished with exceptional figures of 3/21, including the final wicket of Varun Chakaravarthy to bowl KKR out for 161 in 16 overs.
Eshan Malinga (2/14) and Player of the Match Nitish Kumar Reddy (2/17) also played vital roles in the bowling department as SRH celebrated their first points of the campaign.
Match Summary
Sunrisers Hyderabad: 226/8 (20 overs) – Heinrich Klaasen 52, Abhishek Sharma 48; Blessing Muzarabani 4/41
Kolkata Knight Riders: 161/10 (16 overs) – Angkrish Raghuvanshi 52, Rinku Singh 35;
Jaydev Unadkat 3/21, Nitish Kumar Reddy 2/17
Result: SRH won by 65 runs.
Player of the Match: Nitish Kumar Reddy.
