The mood inside the Kolkata Knight Riders camp shifted dramatically after their first win of the IPL 2026 and it wasn’t just about relief, it was deeply emotional. Spinner Varun Chakaravarthy revealed that the dressing room was filled with tears after they defeated Rajasthan Royals, marking the end of a difficult phase.
KKR, three-time champions, had gone through their worst run ever, i.e., six consecutive losses. Their only point before this match came from a rain-affected game against Punjab Kings, leaving them at the bottom of the table. Despite sticking with the same playing group that lost to Gujarat Titans and losing the toss again, KKR finally showed their strength. Their spin bowlers stepped up and restricted Rajasthan Royals to a modest total of 155. The chase wasn’t easy but a record seventh-wicket partnership helped them seal the win in the final over.
Varun Chakaravarthy, who delivered an outstanding performance with three wickets for just 14 runs and won Player of the Match, admitted how special the moment was. He shared that the emotions in the dressing room were stronger than even during their IPL 2024 title win. He credited the coaching staff for keeping the team focused despite outside criticism and negative opinions.
The team had been struggling with several setbacks. Injuries to players like Harshit Rana, Akash Deep and Matheesha Pathirana, along with the absence of Mustafizur Rahman, weakened their bowling attack. Some defeats were also blamed on tactics under new head coach Abhishek Nayar who has faced criticism in the past.
However, Varun Chakaravarthy defended the coach Abhishek Nayar, pointing out the tough situation he inherited. He emphasised that rebuilding takes time and courage, and expressed confidence that step by step, KKR will regain momentum.
With this much-needed victory, Kolkata Knight Riders climbed to the ninth place in the standings, though they have played one more match than the tenth-placed Mumbai Indians.
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