Chakravarthy, Narine Spin Web as KKR Keep Comeback Alive

Kolkata Knight Riders’ resurgence in IPL 2026 gathered further momentum on Sunday, powered by a clinical spin performance from Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine that dismantled Sunrisers Hyderabad and sealed a dominant seven-wicket victory.

The spin duo combined for figures of 5 for 67 in eight overs, effectively deciding the contest and underlining KKR’s revival after a difficult start to the season. The win marked their third in a row following a stretch of five losses and a washout, signaling a strong late push in the tournament.

Narine once again showcased his trademark control. After conceding 20 runs in his first two overs during the powerplay, he tightened the screws remarkably, giving away just 11 runs in his final two overs. His spell created a chokehold in the middle overs, preventing SRH from building on their early momentum.

Chakravarthy, meanwhile, demonstrated adaptability after an expensive start. Introduced after the powerplay, he was initially taken on by Travis Head, conceding runs before dismissing him in the ninth over. From there, he adjusted his pace and lengths effectively, picking up key wickets including R Smaran and Aniket Verma while conceding just eight runs across his final two overs.

Former India cricketer Ambati Rayudu highlighted Chakravarthy’s ability to recalibrate mid-spell.

“He started off a bit quicker but then slowed it down after being hit. On a track like that, once he varies his pace and uses angles, he becomes very difficult to play,” Rayudu said.

Chakravarthy’s return to form has been crucial for KKR. After a slow start to the season, where he went wicketless in his opening games, he has bounced back strongly following a brief injury layoff. In his last four matches, he has claimed 10 wickets, providing the cutting edge KKR had been missing.

SRH head coach Daniel Vettori acknowledged the impact of KKR’s experienced spin pair.

“They found a good length, especially with the spinners. Chakravarthy was able to take wickets even after being put under pressure early on. In T20 cricket, wickets are the biggest currency, and they managed that throughout,” Vettori said.

He added that while conditions played a role, SRH failed to navigate a crucial phase against the spinners.

“It was more about the ball getting softer. We had an opportunity to see off that period and set up for the death overs, but losing wickets at key moments hurt us,” he explained.

Earlier concerns around Chakravarthy’s form had been evident, with experts suggesting he was overcompensating by searching for “magic balls” and bowling too quickly without enough revolutions. However, his recent performances indicate a return to rhythm and control.

With Narine continuing his consistent run and Chakravarthy rediscovering his best, KKR now appear to have a potent spin combination firing at the right time. While their playoff hopes still hang in the balance, their current form suggests they could yet mount a serious challenge in the closing stages of the tournament.