Mumbai: In a commanding performance in the Indian Premier League 2026, Sunrisers Hyderabad secured a convincing 65-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders in Kolkata. Despite the emphatic victory, SRH captain Ishan Kishan struck a balanced tone—praising his team’s commitment while expressing dissatisfaction with his own performance.
“I’m happy with the commitment the team showed, but I’m not happy with my own game,” Kishan said after the match. He credited the explosive opening partnership between Travis Head (46 off 21) and Abhishek Sharma (48 off 21), which added 82 runs in just 5.4 overs, setting the tone early.
A crucial middle-order stand between Heinrich Klaasen (52) and Nitish Reddy (39) further strengthened SRH’s position. Reddy, who was named Player of the Match, also impressed with the ball, supported by Jaydev Unadkat and Ishan Malinga, as KKR were bundled out cheaply.
Kishan acknowledged areas for improvement despite the win. “We need to sharpen our fielding. We conceded around 20 extra runs, which is something we must work on,” he noted. He also praised young spinner Harsh Dubey for his composure under pressure, particularly for dismissing the dangerous Finn Allen.
Meanwhile, Reddy expressed relief after his match-winning performance. “I’ve been waiting for this moment. Staying positive and working on my bowling paid off,” he said, adding that regaining fitness played a key role in his comeback.
On the other hand, KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane admitted his team fell short due to lack of partnerships. “Chasing a big total requires long stands, and we couldn’t build those. We’ll reassess our plans and team combination,” he said.
The result marks SRH’s first win of the season, while KKR face back-to-back defeats, raising early concerns in their campaign.
