SRH vs KKR Highlights, IPL 2026: Kolkata hammer Hyderabad by 7 wickets, halt SRH's winning streak

Action shifts to Ahmedabad - That's all from Hyderabad. The focus now turns to the Narendra Modi Stadium, where the Gujarat Titans and the Punjab Kings are all set to battle it out. The Titans have opted to bowl first and have already struck in the first over. You can switch tabs and catch all the action from that game. See you there. Cheers!

The road ahead - The Sunrisers Hyderabad will want to treat this defeat as a minor blip and quickly move on. They remain at home and will now turn their focus to their next challenge, as they prepare to face the Punjab Kings on Wednesday, 6th May. As for the Kolkata Knight Riders, they will head into their next fixture brimming with confidence after three wins on the bounce. A trip to the capital awaits, where they will take on the Delhi Capitals on Friday, 8th May.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Varun Chakaravarthy wins the award for his brilliance with the ball. He returned figures of 3/36 from his 4 overs. Varun says that the blow he took on the leg was a mere impact pain and says that he is confident that he will be fully fit within three days. Reflecting on his resurgence in form, Varun explains that spinners naturally struggle on the flat wickets early on but find their rhythm as the surfaces begin to wear. Chakaravarthy mentions that the plan was to cramp Head for room and prevent him from extending his arms. Varun praises the batting unit for a clinical finish and highlights a surge of positive energy within the squad, believing that if KKR maintains this consistency, they are poised to make a serious impact in the competition.

The captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders - Ajinkya Rahane calls it a very good game and praises the way the team fought back with the ball. Feels that a total of 190-200 would have been challenging to chase on this surface. The KKR captain credits the spinners for consistently picking up wickets, adding that this is what the format demands. Also highlights that the bowling unit has been doing very well collectively, with special mention for the support staff, including Dwayne Bravo and Tim Southee. Rahane feels that the previous win against LSG was important heading into the break. Further says that the team had 2-3 practice sessions in the break, and for him, it is all about staying mentally fresh. Jinx mentions that the support staff have been doing a great job, and even during the phase where they lost their first five matches, the atmosphere in the camp remained calm. Ajinkya says he is really happy for Varun Chakaravarthy, highlighting his confidence, work ethic, and attitude, and praises him for taking on the tough overs consistently.

Time for the presentation ceremony...

A tale of two halves - After opting to bat first, it was the SRH top order that provided the usual strong start, with Travis Head leading the charge. At 107/2 halfway through the innings, the home side looked on course for a big total, but KKR staged a remarkable turnaround. Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine were the key figures, with others chipping in as well. Wickets fell at regular intervals as SRH lost 8 for 48 to be bowled out for 165 in 19 overs.

KKR ice the chase - It was not the usual Hyderabad surface where batters could freely hit through the line, with the pitch a touch on the drier side. Given their Powerplay struggles this season, there were bound to be some nerves, but Finn Allen quickly put those to rest with a brisk 13-ball 29. From there, Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi took control. Raghuvanshi was the dominant partner, bringing up a fine fifty in an 84-run stand. He could not see it through to the end, but by the time he departed, the finishing line was well within sight, and KKR completed the job without much fuss.

A quick word with KKR's number 3 - Angkrish Raghuvanshi says that he is really happy that he has helped the side win a contest. Raghuvanshi adds that he still has a lot to work on despite his classical knock in this game, as his coach was not all that happy with the way he got out. Angkrish feels that Rahane and Allen started well, and that is what made life easy for him as he walked out to bat, and the skipper helped him a lot in building the innings. Raghuvanshi mentions that he is just looking to go out there and enjoy every outing. He concludes by saying that it is a dream that he is living, and it was his dream to play at such a level, and that's why he will always have a smile on his face.

The skipper of the Sunrisers Hyderabad - Pat Cummins says that the first 8-10 overs were excellent, and they did well against the matchups, but they just couldn't get the act right in the rest of the contest. Pat adds that the deck wasn't the best to have a go on, but from the position they were in, they should have got at least 180-190. Pat feels that their batting has cost them this game, but it happens.

Three wins in a row for KKR - This is a win that will particularly please them, given the character they showed with the ball to pull things back when SRH looked set to run away with it, and the composure they displayed to complete the chase. The five-game winning streak comes to an end for SRH. The short-ball plan after the second timeout helped delay the inevitable, but they simply didn't put enough runs on the board despite having a strong platform.

18.2: Eshan Malinga to Rinku Singh, FOUR! KKR WIN BY 7 WICKETS! Short and on middle and off, Rinku Singh pulls this towards the deep mid-wicket region and finds the fence for a boundary to seal the contest. An excellent cameo of 22 from 11 by Rinku. 

18.1: Eshan Malinga to Rinku Singh, FOUR! Pitched up, on middle and leg, Rinku Singh flicks this up and over the mid on fielder and the ball races into the boundary cushions for four. 

18.1: Eshan Malinga to Rinku Singh, WIDE! On a length, wide down the leg, Rinku Singh leaves it. Wided. 

Eshan Malinga to bowl now with KKR needing 6 more runs.

17.6: Sakib Hussain to Rinku Singh, Short and on middle and off, Rinku Singh pulls this towards deep square leg for a single. 

17.5: Sakib Hussain to Rinku Singh, Short one, around off, Rinku Singh leaves it. 

17.4: Sakib Hussain to Rinku Singh, Full and around the pads of Rinku. The batter steps inside the line and looks to flick it away, but misses. The umpire calls it a fair delivery, but Rinku sends this upstairs for a wide not given. The replay shows that Rinku has stepped a bit inside the line, and had he been in his actual stance, the ball would have rapped him on his pads, so the on-field decision of a dot stays. 

17.3: Sakib Hussain to Rinku Singh, Short and around off, Rinku Singh leans back and looks for the upper-cut but misses.

17.2: Sakib Hussain to Cameron Green, Good length, around the pads, Cameron Green tucks this to fine leg for a single. 

17.1: Sakib Hussain to Rinku Singh, BUZZERS! Good length, on middle and leg, Rinku Singh tucks this gently to the right of Shivang Kumar at mid-wicket and sets off for a single. Shivang attacks the ball and has a shy at the stumps towards the non-striker's end but misses. Abhishek Sharma at cover has a lot of ground to cover, and he cannot get around quickly to back up the throw. The ball races away to the fence. Rinku Singh throws a punch in the air as he celebrates with a smile.

16.6: Shivang Kumar to Cameron Green, Floated around off, Cameron Green rocks back and blocks this out. 

16.5: Shivang Kumar to Cameron Green, Full toss, on middle and off, Cameron Green flicks this through mid-wicket and scampers back for two.

A fine knock from Angkrish Raghuvanshi, but he would have loved to stay there till the end. Cameron Green comes out to bat.

16.4: Shivang Kumar to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, OUT! CAUGHT! Googly, around off. Angkrish Raghuvanshi backs away a shade and looks to loft this over extra cover, but gets it miscued off the cue end and the ball goes towards long off. Eshan Malinga runs in and takes a safe catch. KKR are 151/3, needing 15 runs off 20 balls.

16.3: Shivang Kumar to Rinku Singh, Fuller around off, Rinku Singh cuts this square to deep point for a single. 

16.2: Shivang Kumar to Rinku Singh, SIX! Clean strike! Flighted around middle and off, Rinku Singh goes down on a knee and slog sweeps this out of the park towards the deep mid-wicket region for a massive six. 

16.1: Shivang Kumar to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Wrong'un around off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi cuts this to sweeper cover for a single. 

15.6: Pat Cummins to Rinku Singh, Yet another short one, around off, Rinku Singh ducks down. KKR need 23 runs from 24 balls.

15.5: Pat Cummins to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Slower, short ball, over middle. Angkrish Raghuvanshi helps the pull to deep fine leg for one.

15.5: Pat Cummins to Rinku Singh, TWO WIDES! Good length, way too down the leg side, Rinku Singh backs away but even that is not enough to get anything on it. Kishan fails to gather this despite his dive to his right, and the batters cross over as the ball is parried away off the keeper's gloves.

15.4: Pat Cummins to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Short and on off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi pulls this to the deep square leg region for a single. 

15.3: Pat Cummins to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, FOUR! Excellent manoeuvring of the field by Angkrish Raghuvanshi. Short and wide of off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi gets up on his toes and steers this for a boundary to the left of the third man fielder for four runs. Raghuvanshi moves to 56, which is now his highest IPL score.

15.2: Pat Cummins to Rinku Singh, Good length, around off, Rinku Singh arches back and guides this to the right of the fielder at the third man region for a single. 

Halt! The physio rushes out to check on Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who is grimacing in pain. The magic spray has done its job and Raghuvanshi is ready to resume.

15.1: Pat Cummins to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Ouch, that has hurt! Pat comes around the stumps and darts in a short one, around the ribs of Angkrish Raghuvanshi. Angkrish goes for a pull but swings early and misses out. The ball hits him around the bottom of his ribs to the left side of his chest. The ball rolls to square leg for a leg bye. 

A promotion for Rinku Singh as he walks out to replace his skipper ahead of Cameron Green. 

14.6: Sakib Hussain to Ajinkya Rahane, OUT! CAUGHT! The short ball plan eventually works. Ajinkya Rahane was not looking comfortable to the short ball ploy from Sakib in this over. Pace on now and at the bodyline of the batter. Rahane hangs back for the pull but is rushed and cramped for space. It balloons off the splice of the bat, and Ravichandran Smaran takes a dolly at mid-wicket. The 84-run stand comes to an end. KKR are 133/2, needing 32 runs from 30 balls.

14.5: Sakib Hussain to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Pace off and on a short of a good length, on off. Angkrish arches back and runs it down to deep third for a single.

14.5: Sakib Hussain to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Wide given, but SRH have reviewed the call. Sakib goes short again and keeps it near the tramline. Angkrish Raghuvanshi reaches out to flay it away on the off side but misses. There was no movement from Angkrish and the ball was well outside the tramline. The third umpire wants to check whether there was any bat involved. Flat line on the UltraEdge.

14.4: Sakib Hussain to Ajinkya Rahane, Another bumper, over off, Rahane goes deep in the crease and guides it through third man for a single.

14.3: Sakib Hussain to Ajinkya Rahane, Angled into the left shoulder, pace off again and into the surface. Ajinkya swivels to get the pull away but is early into the shot and bunts it behind towards the keeper.

14.2: Sakib Hussain to Ajinkya Rahane, Pace off and on the shorter side. This spins back towards Rahane, who fends it down.

14.1: Sakib Hussain to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Short and outside off, this is slapped to deep point for one.

Dominate on-side showing from Angkrish Raghuvanshi. Out of the 50 he has scored, if we break down his scoring areas, as shown on-air, Angkrish Raghuvanshi has scored 31 runs towards the on-side and 19 towards the off-side. 

13.6: Harshal Patel to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, FIFTY FOR RAGHUVANSHI! A well-compiled knock from KKR's number 3. Single-digit scores in his last three games, and this knock will do his confidence the world of good. Off-cutter, full and on off. Angkrish pushes it to long on and brings up his half-century with a single.

13.5: Harshal Patel to Ajinkya Rahane, Full and on off. Rahane extends his hands out in front to drill it past extra cover. The bat turns in his hand and the shot is miscued to long off for a single.

13.4: Harshal Patel to Ajinkya Rahane, FOUR! Not in control, but Rahane will take it. Harshal sticks to the short ball, on off. Ajinkya gets his hands high and swings hard for the pull. The ball gets big on him, and it goes off the top edge down to the deep fine leg fence.

13.3: Harshal Patel to Ajinkya Rahane, Rahane backs away before the release but Patel sticks to his guns. Digs it in short, on off and middle. Ajinkya flashes but misses.

13.2: Harshal Patel to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Slips in the slower bouncer, over middle. Raghuvanshi stays inside the line and helps the pull to deep fine leg for a run.

13.1: Harshal Patel to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Bashes the hard length, outside off. Angkrish Raghuvanshi hops and cuts it well but can't get it past backward point.

STRATEGIC BREAK​​​​! It has been a really clinical batting display by Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi so far. The way the two have kept the scoreboard ticking and not let the pressure get onto them has brought KKR in a really commanding position. SRH needs not just one but a few wickets in a cluster to bring things back a bit. 

12.6: Shivang Kumar to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Loopy low full toss, Angkrish knocks it to long off and retains the strike with a single. KKR require 44 runs in 42 balls.

12.5: Shivang Kumar to Ajinkya Rahane, A bit shorter, on off, Rahane rocks back and punches it past extra cover for a run.

12.4: Shivang Kumar to Ajinkya Rahane, Drags the length back and bowls the googly, on off. Rahane tries to run it down with an open bat face but misses.

12.3: Shivang Kumar to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Full and on off, AR comes forward and plays it to long off for a single.

12.2: Shivang Kumar to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Nicely bowled! Slower and it is the wrong'un again, full and across off. Raghuvanshi swings hard, looking to go down the ground but is beaten by the turn.

12.1: Shivang Kumar to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Off the edge! Googly, on a length, on off. Angkrish Raghuvanshi looks to go up and over cover but gets an outside edge to short third.

Shivang Kumar (2-0-18-0) comes back into the attack. 

11.6: Eshan Malinga to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, On a shortish length, over middle. This is helped down to deep fine leg for one. 47 needed off 48.

11.5: Eshan Malinga to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries. Malinga slips in the yorker and it tails back in at the toes. Raghuvanshi hurriedly gets his bat down as he glances it fine of the man at deep fine leg for four more.

11.4: Eshan Malinga to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, FOUR! Fingertips stuff! Eshan Malinga bowls the slower, short ball, over middle. Angkrish Raghuvanshi arches back for the ramp over the keeper. He waits for the ball to arrive and gets a bit too much of the blade. Ishan Kishan leaps and sticks out his right hand over his head. The ball clips his fingertips and goes behind for a boundary.

11.3: Eshan Malinga to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Full and a bit of tail back into the right-hander. Angkrish clips it to the right of mid-wicket. Rahane once again sets off for the run before being sent back.

11.2: Eshan Malinga to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, This is dug in short, on off, Angkrish mistimes the pull shot to the man at mid-wicket. Rahane is nearly halfway through the run before he retreats. Ravichandran Smaran picks up the ball but with there being no back up, he opts not to throw.

11.1: Eshan Malinga to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Starts with an off-pace delivery, on a good length, outside off. Angkrish punches it on the up to cover.

Eshan Malinga is brought back into the action. Will there be reverse swing on offer for Eshan?

10.6: Pat Cummins to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Back to bowling it short, on off. Angkrish plays a controlled pull shot in front of square on the leg side for a single.

10.5: Pat Cummins to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Comes up with a full ball, attacking the front pad. It does catch Raghuvanshi by surprise, who just about squeezes out an inside edge onto the pads.

10.4: Pat Cummins to Ajinkya Rahane, Banged in short, under the right armpit, Ajinkya rides the bounce and pulls it behind square leg. They cross.

10.3: Pat Cummins to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, From around the wicket now, sticks to the bumper, over middle. Angkrish checks his shot as he pulls it wide of mid-wicket for a run.

10.2: Pat Cummins to Ajinkya Rahane, Dug in short, over middle. Rahane swivels to take on the short ball. He does not quite get hold of it and it is skied to the left of Salil Arora at deep fine leg. They cross.

10.1: Pat Cummins to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Around the off stump, on a good length. Angkrish Raghuvanshi dabs it in front of backward point and crosses over.

KKR are cruising in this chase. Pat Cummins (2-0-33-1) brings himself back.

9.6: Sakib Hussain to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Full and wide of off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi drives this through covers for a single. 61 needed off 60.

9.5: Sakib Hussain to Ajinkya Rahane, Short and on middle and off, Ajinkya Rahane pulls this behind mid-wicket for a single. 

9.4: Sakib Hussain to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Pitched up, around off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi drives this a bit uppish but just short of extra cover for a single as the ball deflects off the fielder's body and rolls toward long off.

9.3: Sakib Hussain to Ajinkya Rahane, On a length, around off, Ajinkya Rahane hits this to wide long on and rotates the strike again. 

9.3: Sakib Hussain to Ajinkya Rahane, WIDE! Yorker, down the leg, Ajinkya Rahane goes for a flick but misses. Wide called by the umpire. 

9.2: Sakib Hussain to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Good length, around off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi dabs this towards point and takes a run. 100 comes up for KKR.

9.1: Sakib Hussain to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, On a length, down the leg side, Angkrish Raghuvanshi steps inside and looks to flick but misses out. Gets it brushed off the thigh pad and Ishan Kishan gathers this behind the stumps. 

SRH's Impact Sub, Sakib Hussain has been called into the attack. 

8.6: Shivang Kumar to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Tossed up, on off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi drives this down to long off for a single. The 50-run stand comes up between these two batters.

8.5: Shivang Kumar to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Raghuvanshi has been cutting the ball off the back foot well up to this point. Quicker one, around off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi rocks back and cuts this to the left of sweeper cover for a couple. 

8.4: Shivang Kumar to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, FOUR! Swept well for a boundary. Wrong'un, pitching outside leg, Angkrish Raghuvanshi goes down on a knee and sweeps this behind square on leg for a boundary to the left of fine leg.

8.3: Shivang Kumar to Ajinkya Rahane, Fuller and flatter around off, Ajinkya Rahane chips this to sweeper cover and rotates the strike. 

8.2: Shivang Kumar to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Wrong'un around off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi cuts this through point for a single. 

8.1: Shivang Kumar to Ajinkya Rahane, Fuller around middle and off, Ajinkya Rahane chips this to wide long on for one. 

Shivang Kumar to continue with KKR needing 77 runs off 72 balls.

7.6: Harshal Patel to Ajinkya Rahane, Full toss on middle and off, Ajinkya Rahane just eases this through mid on for a single to end the over. 10 off Harshal's first over of the game. 

7.5: Harshal Patel to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Full and on middle and leg, Angkrish Raghuvanshi flicks this through square leg for a single. 

7.5: Harshal Patel to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, WIDE! Short and wide down the leg, Angkrish Raghuvanshi steps inside the line and looks to fend this through backward square leg but misses. Wided. 

7.4: Harshal Patel to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, FOUR! Back of a length, wide outside off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi leans back and brings fast hands into the action. Cuts this square on off and beats backward point to his right for a boundary. 

7.3: Harshal Patel to Ajinkya Rahane, Slower one, good length, on middle and leg, Ajinkya Rahane punches this down to long on for one.

7.2: Harshal Patel to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Slower one, full and around off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi cuts this to deep third for a run.

7.1: Harshal Patel to Ajinkya Rahane, Harshal bends his back and darts in a short one, around off. Ajinkya Rahane pulls this towards deep square leg for a single. 

STRATEGIC BREAK! A fine start for the Kolkata Knight Riders in pursuit of a middling total. Finn Allen's assault has set up the chase beautifully, with the required run rate at the moment being under 7. From here, it is about managing the chase through the middle overs. Wickets at regular intervals is what the Sunrisers Hyderabad need to defend this total. We did see that as the ball lost its hardness, scoring became more difficult in the SRH innings, and that is where the start KKR have got off to will help them. Sakib Hussain has been introduced as Hyderabad's Impact Sub. Aniket Verma has been subbed out. It will be Harshal Patel to bowl after the break.

Aniket Verma is substituted by Sakib Hussain

6.6: Shivang Kumar to Ajinkya Rahane, Fuller around off, Rahane drives this down to long off and takes a single. 

6.5: Shivang Kumar to Ajinkya Rahane, Wrong'un around off, Ajinkya Rahane goes deep inside the crease and pushes this to short extra cover. 

6.4: Shivang Kumar to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Quicker one, around middle and off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi flicks this through mid on for a single. 

6.3: Shivang Kumar to Ajinkya Rahane, Tossed up, on off, Ajinkya Rahane pushes this down to long off for a single. 

6.2: Shivang Kumar to Ajinkya Rahane, FOUR! A slider this time from Shivang Kumar, around off, Ajinkya Rahane rocks back and looks to play the square cut. Gets an outside edge and the ball flies through the vacant first slip area for a boundary towards the third man region. 

6.1: Shivang Kumar to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Floated around off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi rocks back inside the crease and pulls this to long on for one.

The left-arm wrist spinner, Shivang Kumar comes into the attack. 

5.6: Eshan Malinga to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Full and on the pads, Angkrish Raghuvanshi tucks this towards deep square leg for a single to close the Powerplay. Both teams have cancelled each other out after the first 6 overs as SRH were also 71 for 1.

5.6: Eshan Malinga to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, WIDE! Full and wide down the leg side, Angkrish Raghuvanshi goes for a flick again but misses out. Wided. 

5.5: Eshan Malinga to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, SIX! Dispatched for a biggie. On a length, around middle and leg, Angkrish Raghuvanshi steps across the stumps and picks this up with a flick and deposits this 10 rows back into the crowd towards the fine leg region. 

5.4: Eshan Malinga to Ajinkya Rahane, Slower one, full and on middle and leg, Ajinkya Rahane flicks this through mid-wicket for one run. 

5.3: Eshan Malinga to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Hard length, on middle and leg, Angkrish Raghuvanshi tucks this to the right of Aniket Verma at mid-wicket and takes a quick run. The throw does come from the fielder towards the non-striker's end, but Verma misses by a long distance. Raghuvanshi was in anyway.

5.2: Eshan Malinga to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, On a length, around off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi presses onto his front foot and taps this to mid off. 

5.1: Eshan Malinga to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, SIX! Good length, on middle and leg, Angkrish Raghuvanshi stands tall and just brings his wrists into the action. Gives his wrists a flick, and the ball has sailed over the fence towards the deep square leg region.

4.6: Abhishek Sharma to Ajinkya Rahane, FOUR! Gets it through! A little bit short, on off, Rahane lets the ball come to him and punches it away neatly between point and cover-point to pick up a boundary.

4.5: Abhishek Sharma to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Around leg, on a length. Angkrish nurdles it behind square leg and crosses over.

4.4: Abhishek Sharma to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Short and on off, Raghuvanshi cuts but can't beat point.

4.3: Abhishek Sharma to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, A bit short, on off, punched with sweet timing but straight to cover.

4.2: Abhishek Sharma to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, On a length and on middle, Raghuvanshi looks to force the drive away but gets it off the inner half to mid-wicket.

4.1: Abhishek Sharma to Ajinkya Rahane, Full and on leg, Rahane clips it wide of mid on to his right and takes a single. The 50 is up for KKR!

Angkrish Raghuvanshi walks out at 3 for KKR. Abhishek Sharma comes on for his second over of the evening. 

3.6: Pat Cummins to Finn Allen, OUT! CAUGHT! Pat Cummins has the last laugh, but the damage has been done. Not the best of balls by Cummins, full and angled into the pads. Allen plays it a bit too early as he tries to go aerial on the leg side by using his wrists. His weight stays on the back foot, and he ends up chipping it down the throat of Heinrich Klaasen at deep mid-wicket, who runs in and does the rest. KKR are 49/1, chasing 166. 27 runs off the 4th over.

3.5: Pat Cummins to Finn Allen, FOUR! In the gap! Into the surface, over middle. Allen gets on top of the bounce and pulls it all along the ground between deep square leg and deep mid-wicket for another boundary.

3.4: Pat Cummins to Finn Allen, FOUR! Up and over! Allen is winning this Trans-Tasman battle. Pitched up by Cummins, right in the slot, on off, Allen collapses his back knee and pumps it over mid off for four more.

3.3: Pat Cummins to Finn Allen, SIX! Wow, that sounded so sweet. Cummins bends his back and bangs it in short, over off. Finn stands tall and gets his hands through the ball to play the pull off the front foot. Parks it into the stands beyond the deep square leg fence.

3.2: Pat Cummins to Finn Allen, Fuller and on middle. Allen throws his hands at the ball but the bat turns in his hand. It goes off the inner half to the right of long on for a brace.

3.1: Pat Cummins to Finn Allen, SIX! Just over! A bit short, on middle. It comes at waist height and Allen swings across for the pull. Eshan Malinga at deep square leg moves to his left and leaps but the ball sails over his head.

3.1: Pat Cummins to Finn Allen, FIVE WIDES! That has beaten everyone! Premeditation on the part of Finn Allen as he walks across for the scoop. Cummins sprays it beyond the tramline on off, on a good length. Allen tries to angle the bat face and direct the ramp past short third but misses. Ishan Kishan dives to his right but fails to lay a hand on it and the ball races away into the fence.

2.6: Eshan Malinga to Ajinkya Rahane, Slower yorker at 109.2 kph, on middle. Rahane backs away to open up the off side. He adjusts by getting his bat down and slicing it between point and cover-point with an open bat face. Heinrich Klaasen gives it a chase and hauls it in. Two runs taken.

2.5: Eshan Malinga to Ajinkya Rahane, This is on top of off at 142.3 kph, Ajinkya punches it to cover. There is a slight misfield and the batters think about the single but the fielder is quick to recover and mop it up.

2.4: Eshan Malinga to Ajinkya Rahane, Better line this time by Malinga, on middle and the length stays full. Ajinkya Rahane goes hard at the ball and loses his shape. He mishits it off the inner half to mid-wicket.

2.3: Eshan Malinga to Ajinkya Rahane, SIX! Picked up and it goes all the way! Malinga errs in line as he slides onto the pads with a full ball. Rahane does not miss out as he picks it up off the pads over long leg for a six.

2.2: Eshan Malinga to Ajinkya Rahane, Even fuller now, on the off stump. Rahane firms the drive along the ground to mid off.

2.1: Eshan Malinga to Ajinkya Rahane, Right on the money! Full and straight, attacking the stumps. Rahane taps it back to the bowler with a straight bat.

Will there be a second go for Abhishek Sharma, or will Pat call Eshan Malinga into the attack? The pick of the SRH bowlers till this point in the season, Eshan Malinga, has been called into the action. 

1.6: Pat Cummins to Finn Allen, FOUR! Swatted away! Fractionally short, angled in at the hips by Cummins. Allen swivels on the back foot and swipes it away to the left of the man at deep backward square leg. One bounce and over the ropes.

1.5: Pat Cummins to Finn Allen, Was there an edge? Ishan Kishan has heard something, but Pat Cummins does not go up in an appeal. He eventually opts against the review. In the channel, on a hard length, outside off. Allen tries to force it away on the off side but the ball zips past the outside edge. There was no edge, confirmed by the UltraEdge.

1.4: Pat Cummins to Finn Allen, Keeps it nice and tight, a cross-seam ball, on a short of a length, on top of off. Allen punches it straight to mid off.

1.3: Pat Cummins to Finn Allen, Keeps on that back of a length, on off. Finn stands tall and pats it to the man at a catching cover.

1.2: Pat Cummins to Ajinkya Rahane, Hits the back of a length, over middle. Rahane gets on his toes and glances it to deep fine leg for a run.

1.1: Pat Cummins to Finn Allen, Full and attacking the front pad, Allen brings his bat out in front and knocks it to long on for a single.

A tidy start for both sides as Abhishek Sharma gives away just 8 off the first over. Pat Cummins brings himself on from the other end. 

0.6: Abhishek Sharma to Finn Allen, Sliding on with the arm, on a nagging length, on middle. This is whipped through mid-wicket for another single.

0.5: Abhishek Sharma to Ajinkya Rahane, Shorter and on middle, that is punched off the back foot to wide mid on. Heinrich Klaasen moves to his right and tumbles to cut it off. Single taken.

0.4: Abhishek Sharma to Ajinkya Rahane, Slows it down and this is on a length, on off. Rahane pushes it back to the left of the bowler. Abhishek is quick across the turf and cuts down the single.

0.3: Abhishek Sharma to Finn Allen, Drifting down leg, on a length. Allen flicks it off the back foot to deep mid-wicket. A slight fumble in the deep by Harshal Patel but that does not cost SRH any extra runs. Just a single.

0.2: Abhishek Sharma to Ajinkya Rahane, Very full, on the off stump. Ajinkya jams it out to long off and turns the strike over.

0.1: Abhishek Sharma to Ajinkya Rahane, FOUR! Rahane and KKR are on their way. Sharma looks to toss it up but serves a floated full toss, on the pads. Rahane presses forward and flicks it between mid-wicket and mid on for a boundary to get going.

We are back with the chase. An interesting call from Pat Cummins as he has decided to open the bowling with Abhishek Sharma. Finn Allen walks in as an impact substitute and has walked out to open with Ajinkya Rahane for KKR. Rahane will take strike. Let's go...

... The Run Chase ...

A fighting chance for the bowlers - While 166 is not a daunting target in modern-day T20s, the grip and turn extracted by the KKR spinners suggest SRH are not out of this hunt just yet. To defend this, the home side must strike early and keep things airtight during the Powerplay. The second innings will likely hinge on whether Shivang Kumar can replicate the KKR spinners' success and if Harshal’s clever variations can deceive the batters on this slowing surface. Another dilemma for SRH skipper Pat Cummins would be who to bring in as his impact player. If things had gone differently, maybe he would have gone straightaway for Sakib Hussain, but the deck was offering something to the spinner, which might force Pat Cummins to think about bringing in Harsh Dubey as well. It’s a modest chase, but on this deck, KKR will have to work for every run.

A quick word - Rovman Powell presents the Orange Cap to Abhishek Sharma before a chat with the broadcasters. Rovman reflects on KKR's clinical bowling performance, noting that the primary strategy was to pressure SRH’s dangerous top order. Rovman. Powell credits the team's success to their spin duo, Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy, and says that he is really satisfied after seeing Varun back among the wickets after a commendable effort. On his catch, Powell explains the tactical positioning required in the field, where he stays closer to the action to prevent easy doubles while remaining alert enough to snag sharp chances. Rovman also praises Ajinkya Rahane's contributions, saying that the team’s philosophy is that the fielding unit must actively hunt for wickets to support the bowlers. Powell concludes by saying that the target is below par on a good batting surface, though he cautions that scoring may become slightly more challenging as the ball loses its shine.

KKR spinners turn the tide - It was a tale of two halves for the KKR bowling unit. They were initially shell-shocked by the SRH openers, but the composure shown by the slow bowlers brought them roaring back into the contest. Varun Chakaravarthy was the standout performer with 3 crucial wickets, while Narine’s 2 wickets ensured the pressure never eased. Collectively, the spinners bowled nine overs, yielding 75 runs but snaring 6 vital wickets, effectively breaking the back of the SRH batting line-up and handing KKR the upper hand. Sunil Narine also became the first overseas player to take 200 scalps in the history of IPL.

The Head-start and the spin-choke - Travis Head was once again the protagonist for SRH, bludgeoning a rapid half-century and powering his side to a blistering 71 runs in the Powerplay. However, the narrative shifted dramatically the moment Ajinkya Rahane introduced Varun as he triggered the collapse by stifling the scoring, and Sunil Narine soon joined the party to tighten the screws. The spin-choke was so effective that SRH crumbled from a comfortable 117/2 to being bundled out for a mere 165, losing their way against the turning ball.

SRH stumble after an explosive start - The Sunrisers Hyderabad will walk back to the dugout with heavy hearts, knowing they’ve left plenty of runs on the table after being bowled out for 165 in 19 overs. After winning the toss and electing to bat on what appeared to be a genuinely batting-friendly deck, the home side looked set for a massive total. The top three continued their fine form, providing a platform that screamed 200 plus, but a sudden middle-order collapse saw the momentum evaporate. From a commanding position, the innings derailed completely, leaving them with a total that feels subpar given the conditions.

Vaibhav Arora is substituted by Finn Allen

18.6: Kartik Tyagi to Harshal Patel, OUT! CAUGHT! That's that for the SRH innings. A job well done by KKR to bowl the home side out for 165. Tyagi rolls his fingers over the ball and bangs it in short, over off. Patel tries to take it on with the pull but fails to get on top of the bounce. It is skewed off a top edge to short fine leg, where Vaibhav Arora moves to his left and completes the catch.

18.5: Kartik Tyagi to Eshan Malinga, Hurls it on a nagging length, on middle. Malinga covers the line and pushes it in front of mid off before hurrying to the other end.

18.4: Kartik Tyagi to Eshan Malinga, Full and angling across. Eshan Malinga stays rooted to the crease and prods at the ball tentatively. Gets beaten all ends up on the outside edge.

18.3: Kartik Tyagi to Harshal Patel, Honing in on top of off at 143.1 kph, Harshal stands tall and plays it on the up to deep cover for a single.

18.2: Kartik Tyagi to Harshal Patel, Fuller and in the channel, Patel throws his hands at the ball but is beaten for pace.

18.1: Kartik Tyagi to Harshal Patel, FOUR! Gets it away! Tyagi takes pace off and digs it in short, outside off. Harshal reaches out and flashes at it. Gets it off the toe end and it goes right through the gap between short third and backward point for a boundary.

Kartik Tyagi to replace Anukul Roy. 

17.6: Vaibhav Arora to Eshan Malinga, Off-cutter, bowled into the surface. It goes across the left-hander and Eshan makes the leave.

17.5: Vaibhav Arora to Harshal Patel, Arora goes searching for the yorker and gets a bit of tail back into the right-hander. It comes out as a low full toss and Patel pushes it to long off for one.

17.4: Vaibhav Arora to Eshan Malinga, Dipping low full toss, outside off. Malinga hits it down to long on for a single.

17.4: Vaibhav Arora to Eshan Malinga, Wide! Down leg, full in length, Malinga misses out on the tickle.

17.3: Vaibhav Arora to Eshan Malinga, Very full, across off. Eshan drops his bat down but is late in doing so.

17.2: Vaibhav Arora to Eshan Malinga, Beaten! Pushed across the left-hander, on a good length. Malinga looks to punch it away but the ball leaves him with the angle.

Eshan Malinga is the last batter out in the middle for SRH. 

17.1: Vaibhav Arora to Shivang Kumar, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Another one bites the dust. Short and wide down the leg side, Shivang Kumar has a swipe at it but misses as the keeper gathers the ball behind the stumps. Angkrish Raghuvanshi goes up in an appeal, as does the bowler. Anukul Roy at cover also has heard something and he comes charging in. Ajinkya Rahane checks with the bowler and the keeper before taking the review in the nick of time. The UltraEdge comes up with a spike when the ball is next to the glove. The on-field decision is overturned.

Skipper Pat is gone, and Harshal Patel replaces him in the middle. 

16.6: Anukul Roy to Pat Cummins, OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! Anukul Roy strikes now. Very full, wide on off. Cummins reaches out to force it away on the off side. The bat turns in his hands and he miscues it down the strip. Roy gets low with his hands out in front to take the catch in front of his left boot. No real excitement from Roy while claiming the catch, but he looks confident. The third umpire is summoned for a check and the replays confirm that Anukul had gotten his fingers under the ball to take the catch.

Is that a fair catch? Anukul Roy looks really confident about grabbing this cleanly. The umpires have sent this upstairs for an official check. Replay shows that the fingers of Anukul Roy are underneath the ball. OUT flashes on the big screen. 

16.5: Anukul Roy to Pat Cummins, Spears in a full ball, on middle. Pat digs it out back to the bowler.

16.4: Anukul Roy to Pat Cummins, SIX! Long enough! A half-tracker by Roy, wide on off. Cummins reaches out and flat bats it down the ground. Rinku Singh at long on was in business for a moment but eventually watched it sail over his head.

16.3: Anukul Roy to Shivang Kumar, Drops it short, on off, Kumar punches it away to deep cover and crosses over. The 150 is up for SRH.

16.2: Anukul Roy to Pat Cummins, Darted in at the hips, Cummins shovels it to deep fine leg for a run.

16.1: Anukul Roy to Pat Cummins, Short and on off, that is punched off the back foot but straight to the cover fielder.

Shivang Kumar walks out to bat. With two right-handers at the crease, Anukul Roy has been called into the attack.

15.6: Sunil Narine to Ishan Kishan, OUT! TAKEN! Two wickets in an over for Sunil Narine. He has the last laugh. Sunil Narine floats it up, on off, Ishan Kishan moves forward again and looks to loft it, but cuts across the ball. It is skied towards long off. Anukul Roy settles under it and takes a comfortable catch. Sunrisers Hyderabad are 148/7 and in a spot of bother now.

15.5: Sunil Narine to Ishan Kishan, SIX! Ishan Kishan continues to score runs! Flatter, on off, Ishan Kishan shimmies down the ground and launches it over wide long on for a biggie. He moves to 42 now.

15.4: Sunil Narine to Pat Cummins, Flatter, on leg, Pat Cummins pushes it wide of mid on for a quick single.

15.3: Sunil Narine to Pat Cummins, Quicker, outside off, Pat Cummins leaves it alone.

15.2: Sunil Narine to Pat Cummins, Full and on leg, Pat flicks it away to the left of deep backward square leg and comes back for the second run.

SRH's skipper, Pat Cummins walks out to bat.

15.1: Sunil Narine to Salil Arora, OUT! TIMBER! What a delivery from Sunil Narine. Quicker, on off, and on a length. Salil Arora leans on and looks to block it, but gets beaten completely as the ball drifts in initially, but then straightens to beat the outside edge and hits the top of the off pole. 200th IPL wicket for Sunil Narine. Narine becomes the third man after Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yuzvendra Chahal to achieve this milestone, but the first overseas bowler to reach this landmark.

Whom does Ajinkya Rahane turn to now? Here is Sunil Narine for his final over. 3-0-22-0 so far for Narine.

14.6: Kartik Tyagi to Salil Arora, Excellent over from Kartik Tyagi. Just 4 runs off it. Back of a length, on off, Salil Arora pulls it through mid-wicket for a single.

14.5: Kartik Tyagi to Ishan Kishan, A slower bouncer, on off, Ishan Kishan pulls it to mid-wicket for a single.

14.4: Kartik Tyagi to Ishan Kishan, Hard length, outside off, Ishan Kishan cuts it but finds the fielder at backward point.

14.3: Kartik Tyagi to Salil Arora, Goes fuller this time, on off, Salil Arora pushes it to cover for a single.

14.2: Kartik Tyagi to Salil Arora, Length again, down leg, Salil Arora looks to flick it but wears it on his pads. The ball rolls towards the right of the bowler. Dot.

14.1: Kartik Tyagi to Ishan Kishan, Hard length, on middle and leg, Ishan Kishan tugs it through mid-wicket for a single.

Kartik Tyagi (2-0-20-1) returns to the attack.

13.6: Varun Chakaravarthy to Salil Arora, Brilliant over. Too full, on off, Salil Arora leans on and blocks it to short cover. Varun Chakaravarthy ends his spell with figures of 4-0-36-3.

13.5: Varun Chakaravarthy to Salil Arora, Too full, on off, Salil Arora stays back and blocks it to the off side.

Salil Arora is the new man in. A slip in place for the new batter.

13.4: Varun Chakaravarthy to Aniket Verma, OUT! TAKEN! Varun Chakaravarthy gets his man. Slower through the air again, on off, with a hint of turn. Aniket Verma gets down on one knee and looks to go big. Gets a top edge again as the ball goes high up in the air between cover and mid off. Ajinkya Rahane runs over his right shoulder from cover and keeps his eyes on the ball all the way through to take a magnificent catch. Sunrisers Hyderabad continue to crumble. They are 135/5 after 13.4 overs now.

13.3: Varun Chakaravarthy to Aniket Verma, FOUR! Streaky, but they all count! Flighted up, outside off, Aniket Verma swings hard but gets an outside edge. The ball lands just short of Kartik Tyagi at short third, who makes a diving attempt to his left. The ball races away to the fence. Chakaravarthy is not happy with Tyagi's effort.

13.2: Varun Chakaravarthy to Aniket Verma, Another dot. Slower through the air, on off, Aniket Verma rocks back and blocks it to the right of the bowler.

13.1: Varun Chakaravarthy to Aniket Verma, Fired in, on off, Aniket Verma leans on and blocks it back to the bowler. Varun Chakaravarthy is hobbling because of the blow he took on the leg in his previous over. Ajinkya Rahane has a word with him. Varun is going to carry on.

STRATEGIC BREAK! This has been a good fightback from the Kolkata Knight Riders after being put under the pump early on. Ajinkya Rahane has used just five bowling options so far, with no Anukul Roy yet. That has been largely down to the presence of left-handers at the crease. Sunrisers Hyderabad will be aiming to go past 200, and they still have Salil Arora to come, who provided the finishing touches the other night in Mumbai, and he can hit the ball a long way. Varun Chakaravarthy to bowl out now. 3-0-32-2 for Varun.

12.6: Cameron Green to Ishan Kishan, Oh! Back of a length, on off, and it keeps a tad low. Ishan Kishan looks to pull it but gets beaten on the bottom edge. The ball just misses the stumps and rolls towards the keeper. Dot.

12.5: Cameron Green to Ishan Kishan, Hard length, just outside off, Ishan Kishan stays back and pushes it to the point fielder.

12.4: Cameron Green to Ishan Kishan, FOUR! That's a poor delivery! Cameron Green errs his line down leg, Ishan Kishan uses the pace of the ball and helps it through fine leg for a boundary.

12.4: Cameron Green to Ishan Kishan, Wide! Bangs it short, pace off, outside off, Ishan Kishan gets his hands high for the pull but misses. Wide called for height.

12.3: Cameron Green to Ishan Kishan, Slightly shorter, on leg, Ishan Kishan looks to pull it but doesn't connect. The ball lobs to the right of the keeper off the thigh. Dot.

12.2: Cameron Green to Aniket Verma, Keeps it on a length again, on leg, Aniket Verma whips it through backward square leg for a run.

12.1: Cameron Green to Aniket Verma, Cameron Green bowls a length ball, on off, Aniket Verma covers the line and blocks it off.

11.6: Varun Chakaravarthy to Aniket Verma, Full and around off, Aniket Verma punches this through cover for one run. 

11.5: Varun Chakaravarthy to Ishan Kishan, Nice and full, on off, Ishan Kishan pushes it to cover for a quick single.

11.4: Varun Chakaravarthy to Aniket Verma, BYE! Googly, around off, Aniket Verma looks to defend but plays down the wrong line and is beaten on the inside edge. The bounce takes it over the sticks, and the keeper fails to gather the ball. A bye is taken as the ball rolls to square leg off the keeper's pads.

From 105/1, SRH have slipped to 122/4. A good phase in the game for KKR. Aniket Verma walks in next.

11.3: Varun Chakaravarthy to Ravichandran Smaran, OUT! CAUGHT! Not a fruitful debut with the bat for Smaran as he walks back after scoring just 4. Tossed up, around off, Ravichandran Smaran shimmies down the track and looks to take on the boundary rider at long on. Gets the ball miscued from the cue end of his bat towards mid off. Ajinkya Rahane runs over his left shoulder from cover and puts in a dive at the end to snaffle it.

11.2: Varun Chakaravarthy to Ravichandran Smaran, Quicker one, around off, Ravichandran Smaran looks to works this around mid-wicket but gets it edged off the outside towards short cover's left.

11.1: Varun Chakaravarthy to Ishan Kishan, Fuller around middle and off, Ishan Kishan drills this powerfully straight back to the bowler. Varun gets his shoe in the way, and the ball just bounces a bit before and hits Varun around his foot. A single is taken as the ball rolls to mid-wicket. 

10.6: Cameron Green to Ravichandran Smaran, FOUR! Number 1392 of this season and the first ever in IPL history from the bat of Ravichandran Smaran. Short and around middle and leg, Ravichandran Smaran gets inside the line and hooks this through the backward square leg region for a boundary. 

10.5: Cameron Green to Ravichandran Smaran, Full and around off, Ravichandran Smaran drives this to short cover for no run.

Add that to the list of contenders for the catch of the season. Ravichandran Smaran walks out to bat on his IPL debut.

10.4: Cameron Green to Heinrich Klaasen, OUT! CAUGHT! A stunner by Rovman Powell to send Heinrich Klaasen back in the dugout. Short and wide off, Heinrich Klaasen drags this with a pull towards the gap between deep square leg and deep mid-wicket. Rovman Powell runs to his right and runs in a bit too much to start with, but does extremely well to outstretch his right hand and grab a one-handed stunner. The third umpire is called into action to check the fairness of the catch. The replay shows that despite the fall, the ball never came in contact with the turf, and Rovman was in control of the catch.

10.3: Cameron Green to Heinrich Klaasen, FOUR! Up and over! On a good length, angled in, on middle. Klaasen brings his bat out in front and chips it over the man at mid-wicket. There is no protection in the deep and the deep square leg fielder can't cut it off.

10.2: Cameron Green to Heinrich Klaasen, SIX! KKR fans will consider this as a dropped chance and of all the players, it was Rinku Singh underneath it. Back of a length around off, Heinrich Klaasen looks to slog this out of the park, but connects this from the bottom part of his bat. Rinku Singh stays side-on at long on to take the catch to his right. He extends his hands out in front and tries to get rid of the ball immediately before going over the ropes. He can't grab hold of the ball in the first place as it clips his fingertips and drops beyond the boundary cushions.

10.1: Cameron Green to Heinrich Klaasen, Good length, around off, Heinrich Klaasen taps this to mid off for no run.

Time for pace as Cameron Green comes on, replacing Varun Chakaravarthy. Green conceded 14 runs in his only over so far.

9.6: Sunil Narine to Heinrich Klaasen, Tossed up, around middle and off, Heinrich Klaasen flicks this to the right of the bowler for a single down to long on. What an over from Sunil Narine as he gives away just 2 runs off it. 

9.5: Sunil Narine to Heinrich Klaasen, Short and on off, Heinrich Klaasen punches this off his back foot towards short extra cover. 

9.4: Sunil Narine to Heinrich Klaasen, Narine drags his length back a shade and bowls this around off, Heinrich Klaasen pushes out in front but gets an inside edge onto the pads.

9.3: Sunil Narine to Heinrich Klaasen, Pushed through on off, Heinrich Klaasen rocks deep inside the crease and pushes this back to the bowler. 

9.2: Sunil Narine to Ishan Kishan, Quicker one, around off, Ishan Kishan pulls this flat towards the deep mid-wicket region for one run. 

9.1: Sunil Narine to Ishan Kishan, Fuller and flatter on off, Ishan Kishan blocks this back to the bowler. 

End of a top knock from Travis Head. Heinrich Klaasen comes in at number 4 for SRH. Sunil Narine is back for his 3rd over. He went for 20 runs in his first two overs.

8.6: Varun Chakaravarthy to Travis Head, OUT! CAUGHT! Varun provides the much-needed breakthrough. Quicker one, short and into the batter, cramping Head to free his arms. Travis Head goes for a pull but mishits this off the upper half of the blade. Ends up hitting this straight into the hands of Cameron Green at the deep mid-wicket fence. Green takes it reverse cup around his shoulder and sends Head back. Head gets a pat on the back from Varun. Good to see.

8.5: Varun Chakaravarthy to Travis Head, SIX! 100 comes up for SRH in the 9th over. Fuller around off, Travis Head reaches it, gets right underneath it and hammers this for a biggie over the wide long off region. 

8.4: Varun Chakaravarthy to Travis Head, Floated on middle and off, Travis Head backs away to his leg side and pushes this back to the bowler. 

8.4: Varun Chakaravarthy to Travis Head, WIDE! Quicker one, wide outside off, Travis Head leaves it. Wided.

8.3: Varun Chakaravarthy to Ishan Kishan, Tossed up, wide of off, Ishan Kishan pushes this down to long off for a single. 

8.2: Varun Chakaravarthy to Ishan Kishan, FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries. Short of a length, around middle and off, Ishan Kishan swivels and pulls this through the mid-wicket region for yet another boundary. The 50-run stand comes up.

8.1: Varun Chakaravarthy to Ishan Kishan, FOUR! The fielders are nowhere to be found at the moment. Tossed up, on middle and off, Ishan Kishan muscles this down the ground for a boundary in front of the sight screen. 

7.6: Vaibhav Arora to Travis Head, Back of a length, on off, Travis Head looks to pull it but miscues it off the toe end to the fielder at short third. Dot. Just 5 runs off the over. First over in this innings without a boundary.

7.5: Vaibhav Arora to Ishan Kishan, Hard length, on middle and leg, Ishan Kishan tucks it to mid-wicket for a single.

7.4: Vaibhav Arora to Travis Head, Back of a length, on off, Travis Head stays back and flat bats it to long off for a single.

7.3: Vaibhav Arora to Ishan Kishan, Vaibhav Arora goes full this time, on off, Ishan Kishan gets low and steers it through cover for just a single.

7.2: Vaibhav Arora to Travis Head, Back of a length, on middle, Travis Head hops a bit and tugs it to square leg for one more.

7.1: Vaibhav Arora to Ishan Kishan, Short, on middle, Ishan Kishan hangs back and knocks it to mid on for a single.

6.6: Varun Chakaravarthy to Travis Head, SIX! Clean as a whistle! Travis Head gets to his FIFTY in style. Floated up, full and on leg. Head clears the front leg and swings through the line of the ball. Tonks it way over long on for a biggie. A quality knock so far from Travis, and he will be keen to make it big.

6.5: Varun Chakaravarthy to Ishan Kishan, Flatter, on middle, Ishan Kishan pushes it to cover for a quick single.

6.4: Varun Chakaravarthy to Travis Head, Short, on off, Travis Head punches it to cover for a single.

6.3: Varun Chakaravarthy to Travis Head, MISFIELD AND FOUR! That should have been stopped! Full, on middle, Travis Head gets down on one knee and slogs it wide of deep square leg. Anukul Roy moves to his right near the fence but fails to judge the bounce as the ball parries through his hands and goes to the fence for a boundary.

6.2: Varun Chakaravarthy to Ishan Kishan, Short, on middle and leg, Ishan Kishan hangs back and pulls it to mid-wicket for a single.

6.1: Varun Chakaravarthy to Ishan Kishan, Varun Chakaravarthy starts with a fuller one, on leg, Ishan Kishan blocks it to the left of the bowler.

STRATEGIC BREAK! It has been another dominant outing with the bat to start with for SRH as the top three have combined well to post 71 for 1 after the first 6 overs. Travis Head has been the main run-getter in this contest as he continues to look dangerous with an unbeaten 42 off just 19 balls. Abhishek Sharma had an off day as he was dismissed for not much. Another positive for SRH is that Ishan Kishan has also looked in good touch up to this point. Kolkata Knight Riders will be needing not just one but a few wickets in a cluster to stem the flow of runs, and they will be counting on Varun in particular to make that happen. Varun Chakaravarthy has been brought into the attack. 

5.6: Kartik Tyagi to Travis Head, Kartik Tyagi goes full, on off, Travis Head swings hard but miscues it off the inner half to mid-wicket. A brilliant start from SRH. They are 71/1 at the end of Powerplay.

5.5: Kartik Tyagi to Ishan Kishan, Good length again, on leg, Ishan Kishan tucks it to square leg for a single.

5.4: Kartik Tyagi to Ishan Kishan, FOUR! Perfect placement from Ishan Kishan! Hard length, outside off, Ishan Kishan reads it well and steers it in the gap through backward point for a boundary.

5.3: Kartik Tyagi to Ishan Kishan, SIX! Ishan Kishan joins the party now! Back of a length, on middle and leg, Ishan Kishan winds up and pulls it over backward square leg for a flat six.

5.2: Kartik Tyagi to Travis Head, Nice and full, on off, Travis Head digs it down the ground for a single.

5.1: Kartik Tyagi to Travis Head, Back of a length, on off, Travis Head slaps it but finds the cover fielder.

4.6: Cameron Green to Travis Head, Slightly shorter, on off, Travis Head turns it to square leg for a single. Not a convincing over from Cameron Green. 14 runs coming off it.

4.5: Cameron Green to Travis Head, FOUR AGAIN! A hat-trick of boundaries from Head! Not exactly where he intended, but he will take it. Hard length, on middle and leg, Travis Head tries to pull it but gets it off the inside half of his bat. The ball races through backward square leg for yet another boundary.

4.4: Cameron Green to Travis Head, FOUR MORE! Back-to-back from Travis Head! Slightly shorter again, outside off, Travis Head stays back and pumps it over extra cover for yet another boundary.

4.3: Cameron Green to Travis Head, FOUR! The onslaught continues from Travis Head! Back of a length, outside off, Travis Head picks it well and chips it magnificently over extra cover for a boundary. The 50 is up for SRH.

4.2: Cameron Green to Ishan Kishan, On a good length, just outside off, Ishan Kishan stays back and steers it through backward point for a single.

4.1: Cameron Green to Ishan Kishan, Cameron Green starts with a dot. He bowls a back-of-a-length delivery, on off, Ishan Kishan hops a bit and blocks it to cover.

Cameron Green replaces Sunil Narine in the attack.

3.6: Kartik Tyagi to Ishan Kishan, At the hips, Ishan goes back and just glances it through the fine leg region for a run.

3.5: Kartik Tyagi to Ishan Kishan, Oh, that could have gone anywhere! Seam-up ball, on a short of a good length, on leg. Kishan closes the bat face to work it away on the leg side with a closed bat face. The ball seems to have stopped in the surface. It pops up off a leading edge and goes well over the bowler's head before dropping just behind the umpire.

Ishan Kishan replaces Abhishek out in the middle. 

3.4: Kartik Tyagi to Abhishek Sharma, OUT! CAUGHT! A much-needed breakthrough for KKR. At 144.4 kph, Tyagi goes short and keeps it on middle and leg. Abhishek hangs on the back foot and swivels a bit for the pull. He is cramped for space and ends up spooning it off the upper half of the blade in front of square. Cameron Green moves to his left from mid-wicket and takes a reverse cup catch around his head.

3.3: Kartik Tyagi to Travis Head, Following the batter with a good-length delivery. Head flicks it behind square leg and gets to the other end.

3.3: Kartik Tyagi to Travis Head, Wide! Pace off and into the surface, over off. Head backs away to go up and over the in-field on the off side but misses. Wide given for height. Tyagi is not happy with the wide call but KKR do not challenge the call. To be fair, it did not look to be going over the head in real-time.

3.2: Kartik Tyagi to Abhishek Sharma, A good short ball at the bodyline of the batter, denying him the room. Abhishek is rushed and he mistimes the pull through square leg for a run.

3.1: Kartik Tyagi to Abhishek Sharma, FOUR! Streaky! Pushed across the left-hander, on a back of a length. Abhishek Sharma swings for the hills, looking to go down the ground. The ball flies off the outer half over the man at short third and goes away into the fence.

Kartik Tyagi comes in to replace Vaibhav Arora. 

2.6: Sunil Narine to Travis Head, Sunil drops it short, on middle, that is cut away but straight to the fielder at point.

2.5: Sunil Narine to Travis Head, FOUR! The runs continue to flow. Narine serves it full, on middle and leg. Head clears the front leg and swings through the line. Smears it over wide mid on and the deep mid-wicket fielder stands no chance.

2.4: Sunil Narine to Travis Head, SIX! All the way! Flighted delivery, a little too straight, on the pads, on a length. Head sinks to a knee and plays the sweep over deep square leg for a six.

2.3: Sunil Narine to Travis Head, Shorter and on off, Travis gets on the back foot and punches it well but picks out the cover fielder.

2.2: Sunil Narine to Travis Head, Around middle and leg, on a good length. Head punches it to mid on.

2.1: Sunil Narine to Abhishek Sharma, On a length, on leg, Sharma clips it wide of mid-wicket for a single.

The fireworks have begun in Hyderabad. Head has smoked Vaibhav to all the corners of the park. 17 runs came off this over. 

1.6: Vaibhav Arora to Travis Head, FOUR! A hat-trick of boundaries from the Aussie. Vaibhav continues to be on the shorter side, over off. Head hops to get on top of the bounce and hits it all along the ground. Pulls it to the right of deep square leg for the fourth boundary of the over. 17 runs off Arora's first over.

1.5: Vaibhav Arora to Travis Head, FOUR! A cleaner strike this time! Arora switches to around the wicket and bashes the hard length, on off. Travis rocks back and pulls it aerially over mid-wicket for another boundary.

1.4: Vaibhav Arora to Travis Head, FOUR! Not off the middle but Head will take it. Width offered by Arora, on a back of a good length. Head leans back to flay it away. He does not quite get hold of it but he hits it well from deep point to his left for four more.

1.3: Vaibhav Arora to Travis Head, Dug in short by Arora, across off. Head is early into the pull and drags it towards without much timing to mid-wicket.

1.2: Vaibhav Arora to Travis Head, FOUR! Off to the fence in a flash! Not that bad a ball, if anything, slightly too short, just outside the off stump. Head rises on his toes and forces it away through backward point, beating the man in the deep to his right.

1.1: Vaibhav Arora to Abhishek Sharma, Angling away, on a good length. Abhishek waits back and steers it to the right of backward point with an open bat face. They cross.

Pacer to operate from the other side. Vaibhav Arora will be bowling from the other end. 

0.6: Sunil Narine to Abhishek Sharma, This spins back in and catches Abhishek by surprise. One hand comes off the bat handle as Sharma pushes this short ball away to the left of cover and picks up a single. 9 runs off the first over of the game.

0.5: Sunil Narine to Abhishek Sharma, Tighter line and quicker too. On top of off, on a nagging length. Abhishek stabs it down on the off side.

0.4: Sunil Narine to Abhishek Sharma, SIX! Abhishek Sharma tees off! Narine drags the length back and this is outside the off stump. Sharma is allowed to free his arms and he stands tall to dispatch it over wide long on for a biggie.

0.3: Sunil Narine to Travis Head, Floated up, across off, Head extends his hands and eases the drive to wide long off. He also opens his account with a single.

0.2: Sunil Narine to Abhishek Sharma, This is shorter and on off. Sharma gets on top of the bounce and punches it to long off for a single. Abhishek and SRH are underway.

0.1: Sunil Narine to Abhishek Sharma, Right on the money! Starts with an off-break, full and in line with the off stump. Abhishek brings his bat out in front and watchfully defends.

We are all set for what has all the ingredients of being an exciting contest. The dynamic opening pair of SRH, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma have walked in the middle to open for the home side. It will be Sunil Narine to open proceedings for Kolkata Knight Riders with the ball. Interesting change by KKR. Abhishek to face the first ball. A slip in place. Here we go!

The skipper of the Kolkata Knight Riders - Ajinkya Rahane says they were looking to bat first as well. Rahane adds that the break before this game has certainly helped the side to look into themselves and regroup a bit better. Rahane informs that Finn Allen is back in place of Tim Seifert, and Manish Pandey plays his first game of the season, with Ramandeep Singh making way.

The captain of the Sunrisers Hyderabad - Pat Cummins says that they will bat first. He adds that the pitch looks good, and it is quite hot, so they want to put runs on the board. Adds that the young guys have stepped up and done well, and everyone is giving their best. He reckons that they will try to keep on winning games. Pat ends by mentioning that Nitish Kumar Reddy misses out due to an illness, and Ravichandran Smaran comes in. There is another change with Harshal Patel coming in for Harsh Dubey.

Impact sub options for KKR - Finn Allen, Ramandeep Singh, Tejasvi Singh, Navdeep Saini and Tim Seifert. 

Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI) - Ajinkya Rahane (C), Angkrish Raghuvanshi (WK), Cameron Green, Rovman Powell, Manish Pandey (In for Ramandeep Singh), Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Anukul Roy, Kartik Tyagi, Vaibhav Arora and Varun Chakaravarthy.

Impact sub options for SRH - Harsh Dubey, Praful Hinge, Liam Livingstone, Sakib Hussain and Zeeshan Ansari.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (Playing XI) - Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan (WK), Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora, Aniket Verma, Ravichandran Smaran (On IPL debut) (In for Nitish Kumar Reddy), Pat Cummins (C), Harshal Patel (In for Harsh Dubey), Shivang Kumar and Eshan Malinga.