Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) produced a batting masterclass at Eden Gardens to defeat Gujarat Titans (GT) by 29 runs in Match 60 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. Riding on explosive knocks from Finn Allen, Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Cameron Green, KKR piled up a daunting 247/2 before their bowlers held their nerve to restrict GT to 218/4 in a run-fest on Friday evening.
Finn Allen leads KKR’s batting brilliance
After being asked to bat first by Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill, KKR made full use of the batting-friendly conditions and entertained the home crowd with a barrage of boundaries and towering sixes. Despite losing captain Ajinkya Rahane early for 14, the innings quickly transformed into a nightmare for the GT bowlers as Allen launched a brutal assault.
The New Zealand batter smashed 93 runs off just 35 balls, hammering four fours and 10 sixes during his breathtaking stay at the crease. Allen attacked both pace and spin with equal authority and shifted the momentum completely in KKR’s favour during the powerplay overs.
Raghuvanshi then carried the momentum forward with a mature yet aggressive innings of 82 from 44 deliveries. The young batter mixed innovation with clean striking, smashing seven sixes and four boundaries while stitching together a massive partnership with Allen. Their counterattack left Gujarat Titans searching for answers throughout the middle overs.
Green added the finishing touches with a blazing unbeaten 52 off just 28 balls. The Australian all-rounder used his reach effectively and cleared the ropes four times to ensure KKR crossed the 240-run mark comfortably. The hosts eventually finished with 247/2 in their allotted 20 overs.
Among the Gujarat bowlers, Mohammed Siraj and Sai Kishore managed to pick up one wicket each, but the rest of the attack struggled badly under pressure. Rashid Khan endured a rare off day, conceding 57 runs in his four overs, while Kagiso Rabada and Jason Holder also went wicketless.
Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler’s hard fight go in vain
Chasing a mammoth target of 248, Gujarat Titans needed a flying start and received one through Sai Sudharsan and Gill. Sudharsan looked in sublime touch during his quickfire 53 off 28 balls, smashing six boundaries and three sixes before Sunil Narine broke the dangerous stand.
Gill continued to anchor the chase brilliantly and kept GT in the hunt with an elegant innings of 85 from 49 deliveries. The GT skipper combined timing with power and struck seven sixes during his knock. Jos Buttler also joined the party with a fluent 57 off 35 balls as the visitors crossed 200 with ease.
However, the required rate kept climbing and KKR managed to strike at crucial intervals. Narine emerged as the standout bowler for the hosts, claiming two important wickets while conceding just 29 runs in his four overs. Green and Saurabh Dubey chipped in with one wicket apiece to keep Gujarat from gaining complete control. Despite Gill and Buttler’s resistance, Gujarat Titans eventually finished on 218/4 in 20 overs, falling 29 runs short of the target.
The victory gave Kolkata Knight Riders an important boost in the IPL 2026 points table and showcased the frightening potential of their batting lineup ahead of the business end of the tournament. Allen’s explosive innings, backed by Raghuvanshi’s composure and Green’s finishing touch, ensured KKR walked away with a memorable win in front of their home fans at Eden Gardens.
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Here’s how fans reacted:
Ghar pe jeet, dil mein belief 💜 pic.twitter.com/r4XhouLuZr
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) May 16, 2026
Sunil Narine is not only the contender for the greatest overseas player in the IPL history but also the greatest player in the history of IPL! Unreal consistently even on these flat pitches.
— Sporty Bets (@SportyStats4U) May 16, 2026
– 37(17) Vs MI.
– 28(7) Vs SRH.
– 29(13) Vs SRH.
– 100*(47) Vs DC.
– 93(35) Vs GT.FINN ALLEN HAS BEEN BRILLIANT FOR KKR IN THIS IPL – THE FUTURE OF KKR. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/tJpNG3WNws
— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) May 16, 2026
HATS OFF, FINN ALLEN. 🫡
– 93 (35) with 4 fours and 10 glorious sixes. He’s been an absolute beast, unfortunate to miss out on a well deserved hundred. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/zP3SYSz5ad
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 16, 2026
Ghar pe jeet, dil mein belief 💜 pic.twitter.com/r4XhouLuZr
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) May 16, 2026
STANDING OVATION FOR FINN ALLEN.🙌
– Finn Allen dismissed for 93 off just 35 balls with 266 strike rate. pic.twitter.com/0h4CePZJm5
— Maina Singh (@Maina_Singhx77) May 16, 2026
A crucial win for KKR as they are still alive in #IPL2026#KKRvsGT pic.twitter.com/mxnfNieWQG
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) May 16, 2026
THE GOAT OF KKR – SUNIL NARINE 🐐 pic.twitter.com/U5JLKRxba5
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 16, 2026
FINN ALLEN AS A T20 BATTER
– He is the most dangerous T20 batter in the world
– He is the most destructive T20 batter in the world
– He goes berserk when on song & can tear you apart
– He can go over 200 everyday of the week with ease
– He can clear any boundary in the world… pic.twitter.com/FxPbnftpDZ— Akshat (@Akshatgoel1408) May 16, 2026
Finn Allen is a monster, he is a kind of batsman who won’t score daily, but the day he score, there will be absolute carnage and he will single-handedly change the course of the game.
These guys are made for T20 cricket and T20 cricket has changed. 🦁 pic.twitter.com/Dd0uVEtXY0
— Vishal. (@SPORTYVISHAL) May 16, 2026
There were many mystery bowlers , many good bowlers who have played IPL but after few years or after lasting a few more years have invariably ended their career on a low but there will be only one bowler who will remain legendary until his last IPL game with a glittering career…
— Prasanna (@prasannalara) May 16, 2026
• 200 matches (all for one franchise💜)
• 203 wickets🎯
• 1820 runs💥
• First foreign player to 200 appearances
• 3x Most Valuable Player (MVP) award winner🏆
• Career economy rate: A ridiculous 6.79
• The only player with a Century AND a 5-Wicket Haul🤯Sunil Narine’s… pic.twitter.com/KonktX8AQV
— A N U J (@Hello_anuj) May 16, 2026
– Pollard retired
– Bravo became Coach
– Russell disappearedBut Sunil Narine is still the same. Man is still pulling off the games for KKR. pic.twitter.com/L3PDGuG9IY
— Selfless⁴⁵ (@SelflessCricket) May 16, 2026
🚨 Shubman Gill having fun with Sunil Narine in the drinks break. ❤️🔥 pic.twitter.com/GqjjnIp16M
— Ahmed Says (@AhmedGT_) May 16, 2026
Unbelievable from Gujarat, they’ve sent out an injured Sai Sudarshan and not Jason Holder with RRR of 20? #KKRvsGT
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) May 16, 2026
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