Raghuvanshi, Rinku Power KKR to Competitive 192 Against RCB

Raipur, May 2026: A composed and aggressive knock from young batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi, followed by a late flourish from Rinku Singh, guided Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to a strong total of 192/4 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Match 57 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur on Wednesday.

After being asked to bat first on a surface that offered occasional uneven bounce, KKR recovered from an early setback to post a challenging score. Raghuvanshi starred with a brilliant 71 off 46 deliveries, striking seven fours and three sixes in a mature innings that blended timing with controlled aggression. Rinku Singh then provided the finishing touch with an unbeaten 49 off 29 balls, ensuring KKR finished strongly in the closing overs.

KKR did not get the ideal start as opener Finn Allen departed cheaply in the third over. Veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar induced an outside edge, and wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma completed a safe catch behind the stumps.

Captain Ajinkya Rahane looked in good touch during his brief stay at the crease. He played a few elegant strokes, including three boundaries and a six, before falling for 19. Josh Hazlewood dismissed him after Rahane mistimed a shot and offered a return catch to the bowler.

Following the early wickets, Raghuvanshi took charge of the innings and steadied the KKR batting effort. Displaying excellent composure for a young player, he rotated the strike effectively while punishing loose deliveries. His strokeplay through the covers and over the leg side boundaries kept the scoreboard moving at a healthy rate.

He shared an important 68-run partnership with Cameron Green, who contributed a useful 32 runs. Though Green struggled initially to find rhythm, he settled in and played a few authoritative shots, including three boundaries and a six. However, his innings ended in the 13th over when Rasikh Salam Dar bowled him with a skiddy delivery that sneaked through the gate.

Raghuvanshi continued to dominate proceedings and reached his half-century in just 32 balls. The milestone also marked his fourth fifty-plus score of the season, making him the youngest KKR batter to achieve that feat in a single IPL edition.

With wickets in hand, Rinku Singh gradually accelerated in the latter half of the innings. Initially cautious, the left-hander shifted gears brilliantly in the final overs. His unbeaten knock featured three fours and two sixes, while his sharp running between the wickets alongside Raghuvanshi added valuable runs to the total.

The duo stitched together an unbeaten 76-run stand that frustrated the RCB bowlers. RCB’s fielding also let them down, with several misfields and missed opportunities allowing KKR to maintain momentum throughout the innings.

Raghuvanshi was eventually run out on the final ball while attempting a second run, ending a superb innings on 71. Rinku remained unbeaten as KKR closed at 192/4 from their 20 overs.

For RCB, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood and Rasikh Salam Dar picked up one wicket each, but the bowling unit struggled to contain KKR during the middle and death overs.

Brief scores: Kolkata Knight Riders 192/4 in 20 overs (Angkrish Raghuvanshi 71, Rinku Singh 49 not out, Cameron Green 32; Josh Hazlewood 1/35, Rasikh Salam Dar 1/35) against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.