In the 15th match of IPL 2026, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) scored a solid 181 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in their 20 overs against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the renowned Eden Gardens on Thursday.

Rahane and Raghuvanshi Shine for KKR

After winning the toss, LSG chose to bowl first on a pitch that was expected to assist both pace and spin bowlers as the match progressed. KKR's innings began with some early contributions, but they faced regular wickets that limited their scoring potential. LSG made an early breakthrough when Prince Yadav dismissed opener Finn Allen for just 9 runs in the second over. However, captain Ajinkya Rahane (41 runs off 24 balls) and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (45 runs off 33 balls) responded strongly, leading KKR to a score of 56/1 by the end of the Powerplay. The pair looked poised to dominate, particularly after they took 16 runs off Avesh Khan in the 6th over, highlighted by a massive six from Rahane.

LSG's Spinners Turn the Tide

The match shifted when LSG introduced their spin bowlers, Digvesh Singh Rathi and Manimaran Siddharth. Rathi ended the threatening 84-run partnership for the second wicket by dismissing Rahane, who misplayed a pull shot to Mohammed Shami in the second ball of the 11th over. This partnership was KKR's second-highest against LSG for any wicket, following the 120 runs scored by Shreyas Iyer and Salt for the third wicket at the same venue in 2024. Shortly after, Raghuvanshi fell to Siddharth in the next over.

In the 14th over, Avesh Khan clean bowled Rinku Singh (4) with a sharp delivery that hit the top of the off-stump, sending him back to the pavilion.

Late Surge from Powell and Green

By the end of the 15th over, KKR had reached 115/4, with LSG bowlers maintaining a disciplined approach to restrict runs. Nevertheless, the powerful partnership of Rovman Powell (39 runs off 24 balls) and Cameron Green (32 runs off 24 balls) provided a crucial boost in the final overs, helping KKR surpass the 180-run mark.

Mohammed Shami was the standout bowler for LSG, maintaining an economical rate by conceding only 27 runs in his 4 overs, while Siddharth, Rathi, Avesh, and Prince Yadav each took one wicket.