Lucknow Super Giants pulled off a stunning heist at Eden Gardens, defeating Kolkata Knight Riders by three wickets in one of the most dramatic finishes of the season. Ajinkya Rahane’s 41 and Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s 45 set a solid foundation, while Rovman Powell’s unbeaten 39 powered KKR to a competitive 181. The night, however, belonged entirely to Mukul Choudhary, whose explosive 54 off 27 balls including seven towering sixes turned the game on its head, and with 14 needed off the final over, Choudhary and Avesh Khan scrambled home to secure LSG’s second win. Kolkata Knight Riders are yet to win a game in IPL 2026 after the first three games, with a single point on the board due to a washed out match against PBKS.
KKR vs LSG Highlights – Match Summary
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 181/4 in 20.0 overs |
| Lucknow Super Giants | 182/7 in 20.0 overs |
| Result | Lucknow Super Giants won by 3 wickets |
| Player of the Match | Mukul Choudhary |
| Venue | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
First Innings Recap : Kolkata Knight Riders 181/4
The powerplay was a rollercoaster ride for Kolkata Knight Riders. They struggled in the first over with Mohammed Shami troubling Finn Allen, and after Allen departed, Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi tried to stitch a partnership, picking up pace in the final two overs of the powerplay. The pair put on an 84 run stand, KKR’s second highest against LSG for any wicket. Rahane eventually departed for 41, dismissed by Digvesh Singh Rathi, having looked dangerous at the crease before the spinner did the trick. Raghuvanshi also followed shortly after on 45. Late cameos from Rovman Powell and Cameron Green propelled KKR to a fighting total of 181/4 in 20 overs. Rinku Singh continued his disappointing start to IPL 2026, adding only four runs and piling more pressure on his team.
Key contributions:
- Ajinkya Rahane: 41 off 24 (4 fours, 2 sixes, SR: 170.83)
- Angkrish Raghuvanshi: 45 off 33 (5 fours, 2 sixes, SR: 136.36)
- Rovman Powell: 39 not out off 24 (4 fours, 2 sixes, SR: 162.5)
- Digvesh Rathi: 4.0 overs, 0 maidens, 25 runs, 1 wicket (Eco: 6.25)
- Mohammed Shami: 4.0 overs, 0 maidens, 27 runs, 0 wickets (Eco: 6.75)
Second Innings Recap : Lucknow Super Giants 182/7
Despite early blows from KKR’s Vaibhav Arora, who dismissed Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram, LSG stayed in the hunt through Ayush Badoni’s gritty 54. LSG spotted a weak link in the KKR bowling attack and scalped a big over, with Navdeep Saini ending up being expensive as Badoni smashed three boundaries to get the innings going. Anukul Roy then had the last laugh, dismissing Badoni after the batter reached his fifty, to pick his second wicket in the match. Mukul Choudhary then played an unexpected knock late in the innings, keeping the match alive despite wickets tumbling at one end and having to bat with tailenders at the other end. Choudhary struck a couple of sixes and a four to reduce the equation to 14 runs in 6 balls. With 14 needed off the final over, Choudhary and Avesh Khan scrambled home to secure LSG’s second win, leaving KKR still searching for their first victory of the season.
Key contributions:
- Mukul Choudhary: 54 not out off 27 (2 fours, 7 sixes, SR: 200.00)
- Ayush Badoni: 54 off 34 (7 fours, 2 sixes, SR: 158.82)
- Vaibhav Arora: 2 wickets (dismissed Marsh and Markram)
- Sunil Narine: 4.0 overs, 13 runs, 1 wicket
Turning Point
Here are the moments that completely changed the complexion of this extraordinary game.
🔄 Turning Point 1: Vaibhav Arora’s double strike in the powerplay Vaibhav Arora struck twice as LSG lost two wickets inside the powerplay. Removing both Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram early looked like it had completely killed the run chase before it even started. KKR briefly looked like they had the game in their pocket.
🔄 Turning Point 2: Navdeep Saini leaking runs at a critical stage LSG spotted a weak link in the KKR bowling attack and scalped a big over off Navdeep Saini, whose only variation of a slower cutter got picked up as Badoni smashed three boundaries. This over completely turned the momentum and gave LSG fresh belief in the run chase.
🔄 Turning Point 3: Mukul Choudhary’s helicopter shot in the 18th over Mukul Choudhary brought out the helicopter shot, striking a four and a six off consecutive deliveries. As the last recognised batter at the crease, his presence was absolutely crucial for LSG to have any chance of winning the game. That single over completely swung the game back in LSG’s favor and set up a breathtaking finish.
Tactical Takeaways
Here are a few observations about the strategies and decisions that shaped the result.
📋 Rishabh Pant winning the toss and bowling first : Did it work?
With humidity levels around 79%, dew was expected to be a major factor in the second innings, making the toss a potentially game defining moment for both captains. Pant read the conditions brilliantly. Bowling first allowed his pacers to get early movement, and batting second under heavy dew made the wet ball difficult for the KKR spinners to grip. A masterstroke of a decision.
📋 KKR’s continued reliance on Navdeep Saini : Impact?
KKR appear slightly underpowered in pace bowling, relying on Vaibhav Arora while their spin duo of Sunil Narine has not been as effective in terms of wicket taking recently. Handing Navdeep Saini the ball at a critical stage of the chase backfired completely, and his inability to execute his slower variations proved extremely costly in a low margin game.
📋 Sunil Narine’s disciplined spell proving too little too late Sunil Narine was finally rewarded with a wicket after going for only 13 runs in 23 balls, dismissing Mohammed Shami in the final ball of his spell as KKR moved closer to their first win. His incredible economy was remarkable, but Narine’s tight spell came too late in the innings as KKR had already conceded far too many runs in the middle overs through their weaker bowling options.
Player Ratings
| Player | Role | Rating /10 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mukul Choudhary | Bat | 9.5/10 | A sensational unbeaten 54 off 27 with seven sixes to pull off a heist at Eden Gardens |
| Ayush Badoni | Bat | 9/10 | Gritty 54 off 34 under pressure that kept LSG alive long enough for Choudhary to take over |
| Sunil Narine | AR | 8.5/10 | Went for just 13 runs in 23 balls and took a vital wicket in an otherwise expensive KKR bowling display |
| Vaibhav Arora | Bowl | 8/10 | Double strike in the powerplay gave KKR the early advantage they needed |
| Ajinkya Rahane | Bat | 7.5/10 | Fought hard for 41 off 24 but fell to spin at a critical stage of the innings |
| Angkrish Raghuvanshi | Bat | 7.5/10 | Consistent again with 45 but once again could not push on and convert it into a match winning knock |
| Rovman Powell | Bat | 7.5/10 | Unbeaten 39 off 24 was vital in pushing the total past 180 |
| Anukul Roy | Bowl | 7/10 | Picked up two important wickets including the crucial scalp of Badoni at a critical moment |
| Rinku Singh | Bat | 2/10 | Another forgettable innings of just 4 runs, lazily bowled out by Avesh Khan when his team needed him most |
| Navdeep Saini | Bowl | 2/10 | The biggest weak link in the KKR attack, conceding a costly over that handed LSG the momentum at exactly the wrong time |
What This Means For Both Teams
This is the second consecutive win for LSG.1 Lucknow Super Giants are looking more and more dangerous with every passing game. Rishabh Pant’s captaincy is earning great reviews, and discovering a match winner like Mukul Choudhary lower down the order is the kind of depth that wins tournaments.
Kolkata Knight Riders : KKR have not been able to form a successful partnership across their IPL 2026 campaign so far.1 Three games in and they are yet to taste victory, and the bowling attack continues to be a massive liability. Their bowling has been a major concern, conceding over 200 runs in every completed game.7 Unless Varun Chakravarthy recovers from injury soon and Cameron Green starts contributing with the ball, Ajinkya Rahane’s captaincy is going to come under increasing scrutiny.
Final Verdict
This match was an absolute masterclass in T20 drama and why this format is so deeply loved around the world. KKR did everything right for sixteen overs and then watched it all unravel through a combination of poor death bowling and one extraordinary young man with a helicopter shot. Mukul Choudhary has become the unlikely hero3 of this IPL season so far, and his fearless batting style under crushing pressure is something genuinely special to watch. For Kolkata, the alarm bells are absolutely deafening now. This was their game to win, and they let it go in the cruelest possible fashion. Something drastic needs to change at Eden Gardens before this season completely passes them by.