The City of Pearls witnessed a clinical display of modern T20 cricket as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) dismantled Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the 45th match of IPL 2026. Held at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Sunday, the encounter was billed as a high-stakes battle for playoff positioning. However, KKR turned it into a one-sided affair, chasing down 166 with 10 balls to spare. While the on-field action was intense, the real fireworks happened post-match, proving that the camaraderie in the KKR camp is as strong as their batting lineup.
KKR dressing room party sees Andre Russell drenched in cake post IPL 2026 game
The victory over SRH was sweet, but for the legendary Andre Russell, it turned out to be literally icing on the cake. Although his birthday had passed shortly before the match, the KKR squad waited for a win to unleash their celebrations. Upon returning to the team hotel in Hyderabad, the atmosphere shifted from professional focus to pure chaos.
In a viral video shared by the franchise, the squad surprised Dre Russ with a belated birthday bash that quickly escalated into a playful cake smash. The ever-mischievous Sunil Narine initiated the festivities, catching his long-time compatriot off guard. Head coach Abhishek Nayar played the role of the ultimate wingman, jokingly holding Russell in place while teammates took turns smearing cake across the powerhouse’s face.
The Caribbean star, known for terrorizing bowlers, was defenceless against the onslaught of whipped cream and sponge. Drenched from head to toe, a laughing Russell embraced the prank, highlighting the relaxed and joyful culture KKR has cultivated under its current leadership. This moment of bonding serves as a testament to why KKR remains one of the most cohesive units in the 2026 season.
Here’s the video:
Win No. 3 + Dre Russ’ birthday bash = double the party 🤩 pic.twitter.com/30HX6llZKn
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) May 3, 2026
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Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s masterclass helps KKR outclass SRH in IPL 2026
Before the party started, there was business to attend to on the field. Batting first, SRH struggled to find momentum against a disciplined KKR bowling attack. Despite a blistering start from Travis Head, who smashed 61 off just 28 balls (9 fours, 2 sixes), the Sunrisers collapsed from a comfortable 105/1 to a modest 165 all out in 19 overs.
The architect of the collapse was Varun Chakravarthy, whose mystery remained unsolved as he claimed 3/36, earning him the Player of the Match award. He was ably supported by Sunil Narine, who stifled the middle order with figures of 2/31.
KKR’s pursuit was headlined by the rising sensation Angkrish Raghuvanshi. After the early departure of Finn Allen (29 off 13), Raghuvanshi anchored the innings with a maturity beyond his years. Raghuvanshi scored a sublime 59 off 47 deliveries, peppered with 7 fours and 2 towering sixes. He shared a vital 84-run stand with skipper Ajinkya Rahane (43 off 36), ensuring KKR never felt the pressure of the asking rate and at the end following Raghuvanshi’s departure in the 17th over, Rinku Singh (22* off 11) and Cameron Green (3*) knocked off the remaining runs with ease.
KKR finished at 169/3 in 18.2 overs, securing a 7-wicket victory. The win solidifies their standing in the points table, while SRH will need to go back to the drawing board to address a batting lineup that failed to capitalize on a golden start.
Also READ: Fans erupt as Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s explosive innings guides KKR to a dominant win over SRH in IPL 2026