Match overview
Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 65 runs at Eden Gardens on 2 April 2026. SRH posted 226/8 from their 20 overs after Kolkata Knight Riders won the toss and elected to field. In reply, KKR were bowled out for 161, with the chase effectively over by the final phase when they managed only 2 runs across the death overs. Nithish Kumar Reddy was named Player of the Match. It was a performance that covered all three phases: SRH's batting was dominant from the first ball, and their bowlers finished the job with a series of late wickets.
The scale of the win is worth putting in context. Eden Gardens' average first-innings total across 171 T20 matches is 186. SRH cleared that by 40 runs, driven primarily by a powerplay of 84/1 that put the game beyond KKR's realistic reach inside the first six overs. KKR's reply was not without resistance: they scored 74/3 in the powerplay and 85/5 across the middle overs, and at various points kept the game nominally alive. The death overs told the true story. Needing to score freely, they lost 2 wickets and added just 2 runs, finishing 65 short.
This result snaps a run of recent form that had favoured KKR in this fixture. Kolkata had won three of the four meetings in 2024, and held a 19–11 overall lead going into the match. For SRH, it builds on a 2025 record that already included a 110-run win over the same opponents.
Venue and conditions
Eden Gardens is one of the most storied venues in world cricket and has now hosted 171 T20 matches. The average first-innings score of 186 suggests it is a ground that rewards batting, but 226 is above what most sides achieve here. Historically, teams batting second have won 53% of the time, which explains why KKR chose to field after winning the toss. The average powerplay score is 44 runs; SRH's 84 in the first six overs was almost exactly double that.
The ground's average death-overs return is 38 runs. KKR managed only 2 in that phase of their chase, which explains the margin. In conditions where both sides should theoretically be able to score, execution under pressure separated the teams. Dew can be a factor at Eden Gardens for teams bowling second in evening fixtures, but on this occasion it offered KKR no meaningful advantage.
How to watch
IPL 2026 is broadcast in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket. Matches are available to stream via Sky Go and the NOW TV streaming service for those without a full Sky subscription. Evening matches in India typically kick off around 19:30 IST, which translates to approximately 14:00 BST, while afternoon games can start as early as 15:30 IST (10:00 BST). Check the Sky Sports listings for confirmed times for each fixture.
Recent form
Sunrisers Hyderabad came into this match with mixed signals. Their most recent result was a loss to Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2026, but before that they had won three consecutive matches in 2025, including the 110-run victory over KKR. The form line over a longer stretch has been largely positive, and their performance here reinforced their ability to post high totals regardless of conditions.
Kolkata Knight Riders had struggled for consistency heading in. A 2026 loss to Mumbai Indians was followed by a run of two defeats in 2025 before back-to-back wins over Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals briefly steadied things. The collapse in the death overs here, with the scorecard reading 161 all out, reflects the fragility that has surfaced at the wrong moments this season. Both sides have their next scheduled fixtures to prepare for, and for KKR in particular, the batting unit's final-phase performance will be the priority to address.
