HIGHLIGHTS Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL 2026 Match 6 - Result, Scorecard

We are back for the chase! The players are already out in the middle now. Both teams use their Impact Sub options. Kolkata Knight Riders bring in Finn Allen for Blessing Muzarabani, who will open alongside Ajinkya Rahane. Sunrisers Hyderabad replaces Travis Head with Eshan Malinga. It will be David Payne to start proceedings with the ball. Here we go...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

Bowling highs and lows - KKR were taken apart in the Powerplay yet again, much like their opening game, with the only positive being Kartik Tyagi removing Head in the sixth over. They continued to play catch-up until Blessing Muzarabani struck twice in the ninth over, with Anukul backing it up in the next to pull things back. The bowlers then did well to stem the flow for a while, but allowed a crucial partnership to build, which hurt them at the death. The spin duo of Varun and Narine failed to make an impact, with Varun conceding 25 in his first over and not completing his quota. Blessing stood out as the pick of the bowlers, finishing with a four-fer and currently holding the Purple Cap. Join us in a bit for the second essay.

Mid-innings thoughts - Travis Head presents the Orange Cap to Ishan Kishan before speaking to the broadcasters. Travis says it was nice to spend some time in the middle and contribute to a good total. He feels that the wicket slowed down a bit, and it got difficult to score in the middle phase. Head adds that it’s always enjoyable batting alongside Abhishek Sharma. Looking ahead, Head stresses the importance of executing with the ball and starting strongly, given the firepower in the KKR ranks.

Travishek Fire, Klaasen finishes strong - The 'Travishek' duo came to the party in this game and entertained thoroughly, racing to 82 in no time and registering the best Powerplay score of the season. Both fell in the 40s, while Kishan looked promising before the innings took a sharp turn, collapsing from 111/1 to 118/4. However, Klaasen once again stood tall against one of his favourite opponents, crafting a fine 52 off 35, with Reddy providing solid support as the pair stitched together an 82-run stand for the fifth wicket to push the total well past 200.

Set up for a thriller - A good battle between bat and ball here at the Eden Gardens, with Sunrisers Hyderabad perhaps feeling they left a few runs out there despite a strong start, though they will still be pleased with the total on the board. Kolkata Knight Riders' bowling raised a few concerns again, but a solid middle-overs phase has pulled things back and kept them firmly in the contest, although they now face the challenge of chasing down a big total, something they managed in the opening game batting first, but this time with the added pressure of a target.

Blessing Muzarabani to Shivang Kumar, OUT! CAUGHT! SRH finish with 226. A wicket to close out the innings. Blessing Muzarabani bowls it into the wicket, pace off. No pace to work with for Shivang. He backs away and flaps at it. Ajinkya Rahane moves to his left at extra cover and gobbles it up. 4th wicket for Blessing.

Blessing Muzarabani to Shivang Kumar, FOUR! A boundary off the first ball from Kumar. Low full toss, outside off. Shivang takes it on the full and opens the bat face to slice it behind point for a four.

Shivang Kumar comes out to face the last couple of balls of the innings.

Blessing Muzarabani to Heinrich Klaasen, OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Heinrich Klaasen holes out. Pace off ball by Blessing Muzarabani, on a length, outside off. Klaasen is made to reach out. He has a big swing at it but he is early into the shot. He does not get the desired distance and ends up dragging it towards deep mid-wicket, where Ramandeep Singh comes a few yards in off the ropes and completes the catch.

Blessing Muzarabani to Heinrich Klaasen, FOUR! That brings up the FIFTY for Heinrich Klaasen! A knock of high impact from a quality batter. Low full toss, outside off. Klaasen walks across the stumps as he knows that square leg is up inside the circle. He shuffles across and angles the sweep past that man inside the circle for a boundary.

Blessing Muzarabani to Heinrich Klaasen, FOUR! Hit hard and wide enough! Blessing Muzarabani bangs it into the strip, outside off. Heinrich Klaasen stands tall and hammers it down the ground. The long on fielder is beaten to his left.

Blessing Muzarabani to Heinrich Klaasen, In the air...but Heinrich Klaasen gets away with it! Blessing Muzarabani lands it on a length, on off. Klaasen walks across to get closer to the line of the ball. He swings through the line but skies it down the ground. The sub fielder, Manish Pandey runs across to his left from long on, while Anukul Roy converges from long off. Both fielders leave it for the other and the ball lands right between them. Two runs taken.

Blessing Muzarabani to Heinrich Klaasen, Wide! Blessing Muzarabani does not offer any pace and looks to keep it away from the batter. Heinrich Klaasen walks across but lets it go eventually.

Can Blessing Muzarabani (3-0-26-2) keep SRH under 220 here? Also, KKR has been penalised for slow over rate and will need to keep an extra fielder inside the circle.

Vaibhav Arora to Harsh Dubey, FOUR MORE! A good finish to the over for SRH! Angled in at the sticks from around the wicket, on a length. Dubey swings away on the leg side with the angle. He swipes it to the left of the man at deep mid-wicket for another boundary. 11 runs and 2 wickets off the 19th over.

Vaibhav Arora to Harsh Dubey, FOUR! Nicely done! Arora sticks to the off-pace ball. This is fuller in length, around the off stump. Dubey shuffles across the stumps and gets low. He does not have much pace to work with but he manages to clear short fine leg for a four.

Vaibhav Arora to Heinrich Klaasen, Vaibhav Arora serves up the slower bumper, on middle. Heinrich pulls it in front of square on the leg side for a run.

Vaibhav Arora to Harsh Dubey, Low full toss, at the toes. Dubey flicks it to deep square leg and brings Heinrich Klaasen back on strike.

Vaibhav Arora to Harsh Dubey, Wide! Reload! Vaibhav Arora switches to around the wicket but slides down leg. Harsh attempts the tickle but misses. Arora thought that it brushed something on the way to the keeper but found no support from anyone else.

Who faces the hat-trick ball? It will be Harsh Dubey.

Vaibhav Arora to Salil Arora, OUT! CLEANED UP! Two in two for Vaibhav Arora and he is on a hat-trick now. He goes full and straight on middle, tailing in a bit late. Salil Arora backs away and looks to whip it away but fails to get any bat on it. The ball sneaks under, deflects off his back pad and rattles into the stumps.

The next batter in is Salil Arora.

Vaibhav Arora to Nitish Kumar Reddy, OUT! CAUGHT! Varun Chakaravarthy makes no mistake this time. Vaibhav Arora bends his back and digs it in short. It is the slower one and Reddy has to generate power on the shot. He hops and flays at it. Nitish gets the height but not the distance. It goes only as far as deep point, where Varun Chakaravarthy settles under the skier and does the rest.

Who bowls the 19th? Vaibhav Arora has been trusted with it.

Kartik Tyagi to Nitish Kumar Reddy, DROPPED! Varun Chakaravarthy had as many as three cracks at it, but he has put it down. Another high full toss from Tyagi in search of the yorker, on middle. Nitish Kumar Reddy heaves across the line but fails to get hold of it. It goes flat towards deep mid-wicket, where Varun Chakaravarthy dives forward, but the ball hits his palm and pops out. He tries to take it on the second attempt and then on the third, but does not succeed. The batters cross for a single. Reddy wants to check the height and he takes the review. The Ball Tracker confirms that the ball was below Nitish's waist. So, it is a fair delivery but a chance missed by KKR.

Kartik Tyagi to Nitish Kumar Reddy, FOUR! It nearly went the distance. The stand moves to 81. Ravi Shastri informs that this is the best 5th wicket stand for SRH in IPL. Tyagi gets the yorker wrong again. High full toss but below the waist. Reddy has a swing across the line while being on the back foot. He manages to pick the gap between deep mid-wicket and long on. It bounces just in front of the boundary cushions.

Kartik Tyagi to Nitish Kumar Reddy, FOUR! Gets it away! Kartik Tyagi attempts the yorker but misses his mark. Low full toss, sliding down leg. Reddy glances it away to the left of the man at short fine leg for a four.

Kartik Tyagi to Heinrich Klaasen, Off-cutter, on a short of a good length. Klaasen drags the pull to deep mid-wicket for a run.

Kartik Tyagi to Heinrich Klaasen, SIX! Heinrich Klaasen connects this time, and it goes all the way! Yorker gone wrong for Tyagi, on middle. Klaasen gets low and watches the ball onto the bat. He just uses the bowler's pace and angles the bat face to play the reverse scoop over short third for a six.

Kartik Tyagi to Heinrich Klaasen, How did that miss the stumps? Kartik Tyagi lands this in the blockhole, just outside the off stump. Heinrich Klaasen tries to take the ball on the full and play the reverse scoop but the ball sneaks under his bat and misses the off pole by a whisker.

Vaibhav Arora to Nitish Kumar Reddy, SIX! Straight as an arrow! Vaibhav Arora pitches it up, on middle. He nearly nails the yorker. Nitish Kumar Reddy gets enough leverage to get under the ball and he tonks it back over the bowler's head for a six.

Vaibhav Arora to Nitish Kumar Reddy, Half a shout for caught behind! Turned down by the umpire. Nitish Kumar Reddy has a look at the square leg umpire but does not get the signal he was looking for. Slower ball, into the deck, over middle. Reddy looks to hook it away but the ball sails over his head. To be fair, it did look like that the ball went over the batter's head.

Vaibhav Arora to Heinrich Klaasen, Arora follows the batter again as he backs away. Low full toss, on the pads. Klaasen turns it through square leg and crosses over.

Vaibhav Arora to Heinrich Klaasen, Vaibhav Arora executes the yorker, right at the base of the middle stump. Heinrich Klaasen digs it out down the strip.

Vaibhav Arora to Nitish Kumar Reddy, In the air...but it does not carry. Full and at the sticks, there to be put away but Reddy does not quite go through with the shot. He just checks his lofted stroke. Cameron Green runs in off the long on fence and mops it up. Single taken.

Vaibhav Arora to Heinrich Klaasen, Arora spots Klaasen backing away and he follows him with a short ball. Heinrich cannot free his arms and he pulls it to deep mid-wicket. They cross.

Vaibhav Arora (2-0-27-0) comes back into the attack. Also, a change of gloves for Heinrich Klaasen.

Kartik Tyagi to Heinrich Klaasen, Slower one at 115.8 kph, on a back of a length, outside off. With square leg inside the circle, Klaasen shuffles to play the pull. Ends up hitting it in front of square towards deep mid-wicket for just a single. Excellent over at this stage of the game, 7 runs off it.

Can Heinrich Klaasen make use of the extra ball?

Kartik Tyagi to Heinrich Klaasen, Wide! Tries to keep it away from the batter's hitting arc but this goes beyond the tramline. Heinrich Klaasen lets it go.

Kartik Tyagi to Nitish Kumar Reddy, Lowish full toss, on off and middle. This is pushed to long on for another single.

Kartik Tyagi to Heinrich Klaasen, Keeps it near the tramline on off, full in length. Klaasen took a step across the stumps and initially looked for the scoop, but then adjusted to the line by playing the drive to cover for one.

Kartik Tyagi to Nitish Kumar Reddy, Very full, around off. Reddy takes it on the full and slices it to deep point. They cross.

Kartik Tyagi to Heinrich Klaasen, Goes full at pace, Klaasen is late on the drive and miscues it off the inner half towards mid-wicket for one.

Kartik Tyagi to Nitish Kumar Reddy, Starts with the off-pace delivery, bowled into the wicket. Reddy stands tall and drags the pull to long on for a single.

Sunil Narine to Heinrich Klaasen, A mix-up but it does not cost anything! Quicker and shorter, on off, Heinrich Klaasen steers it away wide of point. Nitish Kumar Reddy sets off for the run but Klaasen is not interested at first, but seeing the fielder fumble, he sets off. The throw goes at the bowler's end, but with no backing up, it allows the batter to get the second as well.

Sunil Narine to Heinrich Klaasen, FOUR! Gets it away! Flatter delivery, full and on middle. Heinrich Klaasen goes down and across before paddling it away nicely to the fine leg fence for another boundary.

Sunil Narine to Nitish Kumar Reddy, Dragged back and on middle, Nitish Kumar Reddy nudges it through mid-wicket for one.

Sunil Narine to Nitish Kumar Reddy, MISFIELD AND FOUR! You do not expect that from Ajinkya Rahane. This is short again and outside off. Nitish Kumar Reddy punches it towards extra cover. Rahane moves to his left and slips, letting the ball through for a boundary.

Sunil Narine to Heinrich Klaasen, Short again and around off, Heinrich Klaasen fetches it and swats it to long on for a run.

Sunil Narine to Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shorter in length and on off, Nitish Kumar Reddy moves back and heaves it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

STRATEGIC BREAK! KKR will be feeling a lot better given the position they were in at the last timeout. Three wickets in quick succession have lifted their spirits and helped them regain control, but they will need to sustain that in the final 6 overs. SRH, meanwhile, will be disappointed if they don't reach 220, considering how strongly they were placed before the stumble. They have the right men at the crease for the job, and with the short boundaries, it remains very much within reach. Sunil Narine (3-0-26-0) to bowl out now.

Blessing Muzarabani to Nitish Kumar Reddy, Back of a length and outside off, gives no pace. Nitish Kumar Reddy drags it off the toe-end of the bat down to long on for one more.

Blessing Muzarabani to Heinrich Klaasen, A good wide yorker, outside off, Heinrich Klaasen gets his bat down and jams it out towards backward point for one.

Blessing Muzarabani to Nitish Kumar Reddy, Overpitched and around off, Nitish Kumar Reddy drives it to sweeper cover for a run.

Blessing Muzarabani to Nitish Kumar Reddy, Short of a length and outside off, slower as well. Nitish Kumar Reddy waits for it and slaps it wide of sweeper cover. Kartik Tyagi runs to his right and makes a good diving stop. Two taken.

Blessing Muzarabani to Heinrich Klaasen, A low full toss, on middle, Heinrich Klaasen mistimes his lofted shot badly. It drops safely just over the 30-yard circle and rolls to long on for a single. 150 UP FOR SRH!

Blessing Muzarabani to Heinrich Klaasen, Hard-length delivery, outside off, takes pace off. Heinrich Klaasen slashes at it but misses due to the lack of pace.

Sunil Narine to Nitish Kumar Reddy, Slows it up, full and on off, turns in. Nitish Kumar Reddy gets forward to play at it but gets an inside edge onto his pads.

Sunil Narine to Heinrich Klaasen, Dragged back and on middle, Heinrich Klaasen backs away and slaps it away to sweeper cover for one.

Sunil Narine to Heinrich Klaasen, Goes a bit short and on middle, turns in again. Heinrich Klaasen flicks it off the back foot wide of deep square leg for a brace.

Sunil Narine to Nitish Kumar Reddy, Tossed up, full and on off, Nitish Kumar Reddy eases it down to long on for a run.

Sunil Narine to Heinrich Klaasen, Floated, short again, on middle, turns in, Heinrich Klaasen heaves it off the inner half of the bat to deep square leg for a single.

Sunil Narine to Heinrich Klaasen, FOUR! Just over! Shorter in length and around middle. Heinrich Klaasen moves to the leg side early to create some room. He punches it aerially and just over the leaping extra cover fielder for a boundary.

Anukul Roy to Nitish Kumar Reddy, FOUR! Spoils the over a bit! He floats it up, full and around off. Nitish Kumar Reddy leans on his drive and caresses it through extra covers for a much-needed boundary.

Anukul Roy to Heinrich Klaasen, Darts in a yorker, on middle, Heinrich Klaasen jams it out to long on for one.

Anukul Roy to Heinrich Klaasen, WIDE! Tries to keep it out of the reach of the batter, but bowls it way outside off again. Heinrich Klaasen offers no shot and gets the wide decision in his favour.

Anukul Roy to Heinrich Klaasen, Drags his length back and outside off, Heinrich Klaasen cuts it away towards deep point and comes back for the second run.

Anukul Roy to Heinrich Klaasen, Fires this one full and on middle, Heinrich Klaasen bunts it out off the toe-end back to the bowler.

Anukul Roy to Heinrich Klaasen, Gets it right this time! Flatter and shorter but inside the tramline, Heinrich Klaasen leaves it alone but gets nothing this time.

Anukul Roy to Heinrich Klaasen, WIDE! Quicker one, short but just a bit too outside off, Heinrich Klaasen leaves it alone. Called a wide.

Anukul Roy to Heinrich Klaasen, Floated, full and angling into the leg side, Heinrich Klaasen backs away and drills it wide of long on for a couple of runs.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Heinrich Klaasen, Six singles in the over! Another shorter delivery, on leg, Heinrich Klaasen punches it to long on for a run. Good comeback from Varun, after his 25-run first over.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Nitish Kumar Reddy, Flighted, full and around off, Nitish Kumar Reddy strides out and drives it to long off for one more.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Heinrich Klaasen, Much quicker and shorter, on middle, angling in. Heinrich Klaasen stays back and stabs it to the right of the bowler. Varun fails to stop it and allows one.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Nitish Kumar Reddy, Drags his length back, on middle, Nitish Kumar Reddy clips it off the back foot to deep mid-wicket for another run.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Heinrich Klaasen, Pushed through quicker, full and on middle, Heinrich Klaasen drills it down to long on for a run.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Nitish Kumar Reddy, Floated, short and on middle, Nitish Kumar Reddy stays back and flicks it to deep square leg for a single.

Anukul Roy to Heinrich Klaasen, A bit too short, wide as well, Heinrich slaps it to deep cover, where Vaibhav Arora gets around but fumbles and concedes an extra run.

Anukul Roy to Nitish Kumar Reddy, Fractionally short, outside off. This is cut away to deep point for one more.

Anukul Roy to Heinrich Klaasen, Short and on off. Heinrich Klaasen pats it down on the off side for a single.

Anukul Roy to Nitish Kumar Reddy, At the sticks, on a nagging length, Reddy clips it in front of square on the leg side for a single to open his account.

3 wickets in the last 7 legal balls and SRH are losing their way a bit here. Nitish Kumar Reddy joins Heinrich Klaasen out in the middle now.

Anukul Roy to Aniket Verma, OUT! CAUGHT! Anukul Roy strikes with his second ball. From 111/1, SRH have slipped to 118/4. Not a wicket-taking ball by any means. A bit of a drag down, wide on off. Verma extends his hands into the lofted hit and does manage to connect well but fails to get it wide enough. Rinku Singh is quick across the turf to his left at long off and gobbles it up around his waist.

Anukul Roy to Aniket Verma, Sliding on with the arm, on a good length, around leg. Verma rocks back to clip it away but misses and wears it on the pads.

Blessing Muzarabani to Aniket Verma, Back of a length and on middle, takes pace off, Aniket Verma stays back and tucks it towards square leg for one. He looks for the second but Blessing Muzarabani is quick to get to the ball to prevent it.

Blessing Muzarabani to Aniket Verma, WIDE! Tries the slower one, full but again down the leg side. Aniket Verma tries to glance it away but misses. It is not given as a wide, but Aniket takes the review here. The replay shows that the batter was in his normal stance, and the ball is going down the leg side. The on-field call is changed to a Wide.

Blessing Muzarabani to Aniket Verma, FOUR LEG BYES! Blessing Muzarabani errs in line and lands this on a hard length, but down the leg side. Aniket Verma looks to pull it away but fails to connect. It deflects off the pads and runs to the fine leg fence for a boundary.

The scene has suddenly changed here with this double-wicket over. Aniket Verma is the next man in.

Blessing Muzarabani to Abhishek Sharma, OUT! HIT FLAT AND TAKEN! A decision which will be talked about for a while, but it has gone in favour of the Knight Riders. Muzarabani comes up as a 'blessing' for the home side. Pace taken off by Blessing, on a back of a length, on middle. Abhishek takes a step across and goes hard on the pull. He picks the bones out of it and hits it flat towards deep backward square leg. Varun Chakaravarthy comes in off the ropes and dives forward to take the catch. The third umpire is summoned for a check. After asking for a couple of angles, the third umpire is satisfied with the side-on angle, and it is conclusive enough for him to deem it a clean catch.

Is that a clean catch? Varun Chakaravarthy is already celebrating, but Abhishek Sharma has been asked to wait by the on-field umpires. The third umpire is called upon now. It is touch and go on the replays, and the third umpire is taking his time, seeing different angles. After a long wait, he is convinced that Varun's fingers are underneath the ball and 'OUT' flashes on the big screen.

Blessing Muzarabani to Heinrich Klaasen, Angled in at the hips, on the shorter side. Klaasen looks to shovel it away but gets it more off the gloves and it goes down to deep fine leg for a run.

A timely breakthrough for KKR! That brings out Heinrich Klaasen in the middle. He has a strike rate of 186.55 against Kolkata in the IPL.

Blessing Muzarabani to Ishan Kishan, OUT! CAUGHT! A maiden IPL wicket for Blessing Muzarabani. Across off, on a back of a length. Kishan sees the width on offer and looks to go big on the off side. He has no intention of keeping it on the ground. Thumps it hard but fails to get it wide enough of the fielder in the deep. Rinku Singh moves a bit to his left at deep point and takes the catch with a small leap, with him being aware of where the boundary cushions are. A much-needed breakthrough for KKR.

Blessing Muzarabani to Abhishek Sharma, Around leg, on a back of a length. Abhishek nudges it off the pads to deep mid-wicket and crosses over.

Blessing Muzarabani is back on. He went for 16 runs in his first over.

Kartik Tyagi to Ishan Kishan, A couple of dots to end the over. Leaving the batter with the angle, on a good length. Kishan attempts to run it down to deep third with an open bat face but misses.

Kartik Tyagi to Ishan Kishan, Oh, that could have gone back onto the stumps! Into the strip, outside off. Kishan goes a bit too hard on the pull and loses his shape. Drags an inside edge onto the pads.

Kartik Tyagi to Ishan Kishan, FOUR! All too easy for Ishan Kishan. Not a great option from Tyagi with mid off inside the circle. He looks to go full, around the off stump. Ishan gets under the ball and pumps it over the leaping Ajinkya Rahane at mid off for his third four in a row.

Kartik Tyagi to Ishan Kishan, FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries for the SRH skipper. Nothing wrong with the ball as Tyagi nails the wide yorker. Kishan still manages to get it away. He drops his bat down on the ball and slices it wide of the diving backward point fielder for four more.

Kartik Tyagi to Ishan Kishan, FOUR! Hammered! Off-cutter, on the shorter side, over off. Kishan picks the change of pace and swivels to dispatch the pull to the left of deep mid-wicket for a four. The 100 is up for SRH.

Kartik Tyagi to Ishan Kishan, A flash and a miss! Going across the left-hander, on a back of a length. Ishan flays at it but the ball stays a touch low and he fails to connect.

Strategic Break! Sunrisers Hyderabad absolutely smashed it out in the Powerplay, getting to the highest score in that phase this season. The 'Travishek' duo is officially up and running, with Abhishek still out there, looking really dangerous. The pitch looks a belter, and with this start, SRH will be looking around 220-230 if not more. Only Sunil Narine did not concede a boundary in the first six overs, but he was then taken apart in his next over. KKR are desperate for wickets here and only that can contain the runs and get them back in the contest.

Sunil Narine to Abhishek Sharma, Slower through the air, short and outside off. Abhishek reaches out and cuts it wide of deep point for a couple of runs.

Sunil Narine to Abhishek Sharma, SIX! High and long enough! Not all that short but enough for Abhishek. Although he is cramped for room slightly, he pivots on the back foot and pulls it behind square leg for a six.

Sunil Narine to Abhishek Sharma, Fuller in length, turning away. Another ball that holds in the surface and Abhishek chips it in front of cover.

Sunil Narine to Abhishek Sharma, FOUR! In the gap! This sits in the surface a touch but this is a bit too short and wide too. Abhishek frees his arms and slaps it to the left of the diving deep cover fielder for a boundary.

Sunil Narine to Ishan Kishan, Flatter and shorter, on middle. Ishan rocks back and turns it through mid-wicket to rotate the strike.

Sunil Narine to Abhishek Sharma, Off-break, on a good length, on off. Abhishek pushes it wide of cover for a single.

Sunil Narine replaces Varun Chakaravarthy.

Kartik Tyagi to Abhishek Sharma, Drags the length back, across off. Sharma runs it down to deep third for a single. End of a dominant Powerplay for SRH. At the end of 6 overs, they are 84/1.

Kartik Tyagi to Ishan Kishan, Mix-up but no harm done! Tyagi gets the yorker in, on middle. Kishan takes it on the full and taps it to extra cover. A bit of hesitation between the two batters for the single but luckily for Ishan, who was running to the danger end, Green fails to pick the ball up in one go.

Finally, something to cheer for the Kolkata crowd. The 82-run opening stand has been broken now. Captain Ishan Kishan walks out to bat at number 3.

Kartik Tyagi to Travis Head, OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Kartik Tyagi wins the battle but Travis Head has done his job of providing a flying start to his side. Seam up ball at 142 kph, bowled into the wicket and keeping it away from the batter's arc. Head is made to reach out and ends up dragging it off the toe end of the blade. One hand comes off the bat handle and it is skied over mid on. Cameron Green backpedals and takes a safe catch in reverse cup style over his head.

Kartik Tyagi to Travis Head, Better from Tyagi! Slightly on a hard length, on middle at 145.8 kph. Head is taken aback and he awkwardly fends it down to cover.

Kartik Tyagi to Travis Head, SIX! Clean as a whistle! Change of pace from Tyagi as he brings out the slower one but dishes it out right in the slot, around off. Head picks the slower one and waits for the ball to arrive. He gets low and slams it over wide long off for a flat six.

Kartik Tyagi to Travis Head, Wide! Pushes a full ball across the left-hander. Travis throws his hands at the ball but misses. Too wide for the umpire's liking.

Kartik Tyagi to Travis Head, FOUR! Tyagi is greeted with a boundary! Kartik steams in from over the wicket and bowls it into the surface. This comes just above the waist. Head backs away early and smashes it through extra cover for a four.

A change in bowling. Kartik Tyagi will close out the Powerplay.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Abhishek Sharma, FOUR! Varun Chakaravarthy's struggles continue as he goes for 25 in the over! He bowls this quicker and shorter, outside off again. Abhishek Sharma repeats the dose, moves across and steers it away in the same gap behind point for four more runs.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Abhishek Sharma, FOUR! Played beautifully! Varun Chakaravarthy keeps the line outside off, drops it short again. Abhishek Sharma moves across early and places the cut between point and backward point for another boundary.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Abhishek Sharma, WIDE! Slows it up, full but way outside off, Abhishek Sharma lets it go. Wided.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Abhishek Sharma, FOUR! Excellent shot! Flighted delivery, full and just outside off. Abhishek Sharma gets low on one knee, extends his arms to reach out and crunches it through covers for a boundary now.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Abhishek Sharma, SIX! Clean strike! Dragged back from Varun, on middle. Abhishek Sharma pounces on it in a flash. He rocks back a bit and muscles it over the long on fence once again for half a dozen.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Abhishek Sharma, Comes around the wicket, bowls this flatter and shorter, on off, Abhishek Sharma stabs it out to short cover.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Abhishek Sharma, SIX! Welcome to the game, Varun Chakaravarthy! He tosses it up, full and around middle. Abhishek Sharma wastes no time, clears his front leg and dispatches it with ease over the long on fence for a biggie. 50 UP FOR SRH.

It will be spin from both ends as Varun Chakaravarthy comes on.

Sunil Narine to Travis Head, Drags his length back again, on middle, Travis Head pats it to the right of the bowler. Just 3 runs off Narine's first over!

Sunil Narine to Travis Head, DROPPED! A tough chance, but a chance nonetheless! Slower through the air, full and on middle, turns away a bit. Travis Head uses his feet and swings at it. Ends up slicing it off the outer half wide of extra cover. Ajinkya Rahane runs over his left shoulder and puts in a dive, but he cannot even get his hands on it. Two taken.

Sunil Narine to Travis Head, Flatter and shorter, on leg, Travis Head looks to flick it away but misses as the ball goes off his pads towards short fine.

Sunil Narine to Abhishek Sharma, Goes short again, on leg, Abhishek Sharma nudges it through mid-wicket for a single.

Sunil Narine to Abhishek Sharma, Drops it a bit short and on middle, Abhishek Sharma backs away and punches it to extra cover.

Sunil Narine to Abhishek Sharma, Floated, full and on middle and leg, Abhishek Sharma pushes it back to the bowler.

Vaibhav Arora to Travis Head, Much better! Vaibhav Arora lands this short of a length and on middle, follows the batter by angling it into the leg side. Travis Head backs away and tries to play at it but gets cramped up and misses. 37 runs in the last two overs.

21 runs off the over so far.

Vaibhav Arora to Travis Head, WIDE! Tries the slower bouncer, on middle, just a bit too high for the batter. Travis Head fails to upper cut it. Called a wide.

Vaibhav Arora to Travis Head, FOUR! Put away again! Arora goes for the yorker but misses it by some distance. He ends up bowling a full toss, on middle. Travis Head backs away and carves it over point for four more runs.

Vaibhav Arora to Travis Head, SIX MORE! Head moves to 30 off just 12 balls! Vaibhav Arora keeps the length on the fuller side but angles it into the pads. Travis Head brings his wrists into play, picks it up and whips it over the deep backward square leg fence for half a dozen more.

Vaibhav Arora to Travis Head, SIX! BOOM! Sunrisers on the charge now. Pitched up and around middle, in the slot as well. Travis Head gets his front leg out of the way and tonks it with a straight bat over the bowler's head for a biggie.

Vaibhav Arora to Travis Head, Much fuller and on middle, Travis Head backs away and drives it firmly but finds extra cover this time.

Vaibhav Arora to Travis Head, FOUR! Finds the gap! Slightly back of a length and around off. Travis Head opens up his hips to access the off side and slaps it away. Again, he does not get the timing right but gets it through the gap at covers for his fourth boundary.

Blessing Muzarabani to Abhishek Sharma, SIX! BANG! Abhishek Sharma joins the party now. Blessing Muzarabani tries to test the batter with a bouncer, but this one does not trouble the batter at all. Sharma climbs onto it and whacks it over the deep square leg fence for a biggie.

Blessing Muzarabani to Abhishek Sharma, Bowls this into the deck, on middle, Abhishek Sharma stays back and blocks it out.

Blessing Muzarabani to Travis Head, Hard length and around off, Travis Head guides it away through point for a run.

Blessing Muzarabani to Travis Head, FOUR! And again! Back of a length and around off, angling away. Travis Head manages to get on top of the bounce and lofts it. He does not hit it from the middle but gets enough to clear extra cover as the ball races away to the fence.

Blessing Muzarabani to Travis Head, FOUR! Gets it away! Short of a length and outside off, giving width to the batter. Travis Head does not miss out. He extends his arms and smacks it between cover and extra cover for a boundary.

Blessing Muzarabani to Abhishek Sharma, Blessing Muzarabani begins with a full delivery, on the pads, Abhishek Sharma flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

It will be the towering figure of Blessing Muzarabani to share the attack.

Vaibhav Arora to Travis Head, FOUR! First one of the match! Vaibhav Arora tries to bang it into the pitch, but this one sits up nicely for the batter, on middle. Travis Head lifts his front leg and pulls it past mid-wicket for a boundary. 6 runs off the first over.

Vaibhav Arora to Abhishek Sharma, On a length and on off, Abhishek Sharma stays back and pushes it towards cover-point, where the fielder makes a half-stop. They cross.

Vaibhav Arora to Travis Head, Sunrisers Hyderabad are finally underway! Short of a length and just outside off, Travis Head cuts it away towards deep point for a single.

Vaibhav Arora to Travis Head, BEATEN! Vaibhav Arora hits the length hard and on middle again, gets it to move away from the left-hander. Travis Head stays back and has a poke at it but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Vaibhav Arora to Travis Head, Back of a length and around middle, shapes away again with some extra bounce this time. Travis Head tries to cut it away but fails to connect.

Vaibhav Arora to Travis Head, Hint of movement! Vaibhav Arora starts with a good-length delivery, lands this on the middle stump line, getting it to shape away. Travis Head watches it through and leaves it alone.

We are all set to get going. It is a near-full house already. Ajinkya Rahane has gathered his men in a huddle near the ropes. In what is a tradition at this storied venue, Ravi Shastri has been given the honour of ringing the bell. The men in purple and gold are followed by the two SRH openers, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma. Vaibhav Arora will start with the new ball for the home side. A slip in place. Here we go!

Impact Players for Sunrisers Hyderabad - Harshal Patel, Liam Livingstone, Eshan Malinga, Ravichandran Smaran, Sakib Hussain.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (Playing XI) - Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan (C/WK), Heinrich Klaasen, Aniket Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Salil Arora, Harsh Dubey, Shivang Kumar (In place of Harshal Patel), Jaydev Unadkat, David Payne.

Impact Players for Kolkata Knight Riders - Manish Pandey, Finn Allen, Tejasvi Singh, Saurabh Dubey, Rovman Powell.

Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI) - Ajinkya Rahane (C), Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi (WK), Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy, Vaibhav Arora, Kartik Tyagi, Blessing Muzarabani.

Needs to execute better - Ishan Kishan, the skipper of Sunrisers Hyderabad, says that they would have bowled first as well. Adds that batting first here in Eden, they just have to watch the ball and give their best. Mentions that the two points are very important and they have to bring out their best, focusing on doing the basics right. Kishan shares that one thing they can learn from the last game is execution. They have to execute their plans properly but also want to keep things simple here. Says that he still doesn't know when Cummins will be fit, but admits that he makes a huge difference in the team and hopes he can recover soon. Ishan informs that they have made one change, bringing Shivang Kumar in the side. He has been bowling really well in the nets and they wanted to give him a chance, also believing that a wrist spinner can make an impact on this ground.

Green will start bowling soon - The captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders, Ajinkya Rahane explains the decision to bowl first, noting that the wicket is greener than usual, and adds that there has been rain around over the past couple of days. The KKR captain says there is always room for improvement and highlights the positives with the bat from the last game, adding that the bowling group is a bit inexperienced but will improve with time. Jinx mentions that dew is generally a factor at this venue, but with a breeze blowing across, he isn't entirely sure how much impact it will have tonight. He reckons that the pitch won't change much over the course of the 40 overs. Rahane shares that Cameron Green is progressing well, doing everything required in his return-to-bowling process, and expects him to be back bowling soon. Informs that they are unchanged for this game.

TOSS - It's time for the coin flip in Kolkata. Both the captains are already out in the middle, with the ever-energetic Ravi Shastri presenting the toss. Ajinkya Rahane gives it a flick, and it lands in his favour. Kolkata Knight Riders elect to BOWL first.

Milestone alert - Ajinkya Rahane will be playing his 200th IPL game, becoming only the 11th player in the league's history to achieve this feat.

Time to hear from the KKR camp - Sunil Narine acknowledges the strong backing from fans in Kolkata, noting that the support gives the team that extra push to perform. Believes that IPL is about peaking at the right time, and in T20 cricket, he feels momentum is everything. Narine highlights the importance of staying positive, being brave, and continuing to play good cricket, regardless of the situation. He also points out that players today are exposed to a lot more cricket than before, which makes adapting easier. Sunil stresses that no one takes anything for granted, fully aware of how competitive and demanding the league is. Speaking about his role, Narine underlines his team-first approach, stating that he is always ready to do whatever the team requires.

A quick chat - Heinrich Klaasen is up for a chat with the broadcasters. He says that he came in a little bit cold, which is not always a bad thing. Adds that he trained hard for a couple of days between, had a decent knock in the first match and hopes they can kick off the tournament properly in this game. On being asked about life after international cricket, Klaasen says that sometimes he doesn't know what to do with his spare time. Shares that he watched a lot of cricket, especially his mates in the T20 World Cup and questioned himself whether he made the right call or not. Tells that he also had a chat with his wife about returning for the ODI World Cup, but also admits that's not gonna happen, and life after international cricket has been treating him well. Klaasen reckons that cricket has definitely evolved, with the pace of the game getting a lot quicker. According to him, earlier you consolidated at 7s and 8s, but those days are gone, and now teams do that at 8s and 9s to keep up with the pace of the game.

PITCH REPORT - Murali Kartik notes that this is pitch number 5, the same surface on which the SA vs NZ T20 World Cup semifinal was played, and Finn Allen smashed a 33-ball hundred. The boundary dimensions read 61 and 68 metres square of the wicket, with 74 metres down the ground. Simon Doull adds that conditions are a little sticky at the moment, which might assist swing bowlers. Doull observes a couple of bare patches, but overall, the surface looks like an absolute belter. He expects dew to play a role and feels chasing is the way to go. Doull further informs that the average first-innings score here was 199 last season, and Kartik chimes in, saying that this is a ground where you will get value for your shots.

Battle of nerves - With both teams known for piling on big scores and Eden Gardens often producing high-scoring encounters, another entertaining contest is on the cards. But beyond the batting fireworks, this game could well be decided by which bowling unit finds answers under pressure. Stay tuned for toss and other updates.

SRH's explosive core - Sunrisers Hyderabad, meanwhile, are still settling under Ishan Kishan's leadership. While Kishan continues his rich run of form, the absence of Pat Cummins is being felt in both leadership and execution with the ball. The much-talked-about 'Travishek' duo remains a key weapon at the top, capable of taking the game away in the Powerplay, while Klaasen adds serious firepower in the middle, especially against KKR, with 319 runs at a strike rate of 186.55 against them. Yet, like KKR, their bowling lacked consistency in the opener, something they will need to address quickly.

KKR's strengths and gaps - Kolkata Knight Riders will draw confidence from their dominance in this rivalry, having won 20 of the 30 meetings, including 4 of the last 5, and boasting a strong record at Eden Gardens. Their batting looks in good touch, with Rahane and Finn Allen providing explosive starts, while Rinku Singh and Raghuvanshi add solidity through the middle. However, injuries to key pacers have left their bowling slightly thin, putting the spotlight on Narine and Varun to step up, especially at a venue where spinners have historically played a major role.

Searching for first points - Two teams, similar problems, and an early need to respond, that's the backdrop as Kolkata Knight Riders take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in Match 6 of IPL 2026 at Eden Gardens. Welcome to Kolkata, where both sides arrive eager to bounce back after failing to defend big totals in their opening games, exposing gaps in their bowling attacks. With momentum already on the line, a second straight defeat could push either side onto the back foot early in the tournament.

... MATCH DAY ...

The start of Round 2 - With every team having played a match each in Season 19 of the Indian Premier League, Match 6 marks the start of the next round of fixtures. We kick things off at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata as the Kolkata Knight Riders welcome the Sunrisers Hyderabad for a fascinating contest. The 2024 champions and runners-up meet each other in an all-important clash, with both teams coming off defeats in their opening fixtures. Historically, this has been a rivalry dominated by Kolkata, but with injury woes and fresh squad dynamics, the scales are remarkably balanced for this encounter. Searching for a spark - KKR enter this game with a glass cannon feel - explosive batting but a fragile bowling attack. The absence of Matheesha Pathirana and injuries to Harshit Rana and Akash Deep have left their pace battery severely depleted. Even the legendary duo of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy struggled in the opener. For KKR to win at home, these two must rediscover their mystery against a fearless SRH top order. In their opening match against the Mumbai Indians, the likes of skipper Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi stood out with the bat, continuing their form from the 2025 season. Finn Allen played a quickfire cameo up top, and Rinku Singh showed stability at the death. However, the lack of someone like Andre Russell is slightly holding them back at the death, with Rinku having to shoulder all the pressure. In the bowling department, there was not a single bowler who went for less than 10 runs an over against MI, and that is a serious concern against a side like SRH that has some big hitters throughout their line-up. Orange Army needs awakening - SRH is facing its own leadership hurdle as captain Pat Cummins races against time to be match-fit. In his absence, the team leans heavily on its aggressive batting philosophy. Even with that struggle in their opening game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the opening pair of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma remains the most dangerous in the league. If they survive the first six overs at Eden, KKR could be in for a long night. Stand-in captain Ishan Kishan has been a revelation in the last 6 months or so and has started the new season with a bang. Even the middle order looks in-form with Heinrich Klaasen and Aniket Verma putting in solid performances in the cutai raiser. The latter, especially, came into his own and managed to take his side over the 200-run mark. However, SRH will expect a lot more from Nitish Kumar Reddy, who hasn't been able to replicate his breakthrough season since the start of the 2025 season. Just like their counterparts, the Sunrisers too have major woes in the bowling department. RCB absolutely thumped them in the opening games, chasing down a target of 202 in just 15.4 overs. There were a couple of bright sparks as veteran medium-pacer David Payne showed his range and picked up a couple of wickets as well, and Jaydev Unadkat bowled reasonably well. However, the likes of Eshan Malinga and Harshal Patel were put to the sword, and the absence of Zeeshan Ansari might have been a trick missed by SRH. Given the historical spin domination at Eden Gardens, we might see Zeeshan back in the line-up, partnering Harsh Dubey. How's the pitch going to play? The Eden Gardens pitch has evolved into a batter's paradise. Recent seasons have seen scores of 200+ becoming the norm. The lightning-fast outfield and short boundaries make it a nightmare for bowlers. Expect the captain winning the toss to bowl first. Chasing has historically been the preferred strategy here, given the potential for dew to make the ball slippery for spinners in the second innings. Team form (Last 5 completed IPL matches) - KKR - LLLWW | SRH - LWWWL. What to expect? While KKR has the home advantage and a superior head-to-head record, their current bowling crisis is a major concern. If SRH’s top order fires, they might overpower the KKR spinners on a flat Eden track. However, if Narine and Chakaravarthy find their rhythm, KKR's batting depth should see them through. Who do you reckon will come out on top?