Kolkata Knight Riders secured a dramatic victory over Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League on Sunday, April 26, 2026, winning by one run in a Super Over after both teams finished level at 155 runs in regulation time at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.
The match, which marked the first Super Over of the IPL 2026 season, featured a match-winning performance from Kolkata’s Rinku Singh, who remained not out on 83 runs off 51 balls while also contributing four catches in the field. His innings included four sixes in the final over of Kolkata’s innings, helping the team recover from a precarious position to post a competitive total.
Lucknow’s chase appeared to be slipping away until the final over, when they needed 17 runs to win. After a series of inconsistent deliveries, including wides and no-balls, Mohammed Shami struck a six off the last ball to level the scores and force a Super Over.
In the one-over eliminator, Kolkata’s spinner Sunil Narine restricted Lucknow to a low total before Rinku Singh returned to hit the winning runs, sealing the victory for his side. The result marked Kolkata’s first win of the IPL 2026 campaign after earlier losses to Rajasthan Royals.
According to match summaries from multiple sources, Rinku Singh became the first player in IPL history to score over 80 runs and capture four or more catches in a single match, highlighting his all-around impact on the game.
Lucknow’s innings had been anchored by a strong start from their bowling attack, particularly left-arm pacer Mohsin Khan, who claimed figures of 5 for 23, including the wickets of Ajinkya Rahane and Tim Seifert in the powerplay. His spell left Kolkata struggling at 47 for 5 before Rinku’s counterattack stabilized the innings.
Despite early setbacks in their chase, Lucknow had built momentum through a partnership between Rishabh Patel and Aiden Markram, who added 57 runs for the second wicket after Mitchell Marsh’s early dismissal. But, regular wickets in the middle overs prevented them from accelerating, and they relied on late hitting to force the decider.
The Super Over began with Lucknow struggling to score freely against Narine’s tight bowling. Kolkata then chased down the target with composure, with Rinku Singh finishing the match with a boundary to spark celebrations among the Kolkata players, and staff.
Post-match reactions highlighted the psychological importance of the win for Kolkata, who had entered the game winless in the season. Analysts noted that the victory could serve as a turning point, particularly given the high-pressure nature of the contest and the individual brilliance required to win it.
For Lucknow, the loss extended a pattern of failing to close out matches despite strong performances, particularly with the ball. Their bowlers had dominated large portions of the game but were unable to defend the total in the final moments.
The match took place at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, which hosted its first IPL Super Over of the 2026 season. The venue has become known for producing close finishes due to its playing characteristics, particularly in the latter stages of innings.
As of the latest update, Kolkata Knight Riders will next face Sunrisers Hyderabad in their upcoming fixture, while Lucknow Super Giants are scheduled to play against Gujarat Titans in their next match. Both games are set to take place in the coming week as the IPL 2026 league stage progresses.
Fans and followers of the tournament can access official scorecards, match highlights, and expert analysis through the IPL’s digital platforms and broadcasting partners. Continued coverage of the tournament will focus on how both teams respond to this result in their subsequent fixtures.