Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 65 runs in the sixth match of the Indian Premier League 2026. It was a comprehensive performance from Sunrisers Hyderabad who bounced back after a defeat in the previous match. They put up an excellent performance with the bat scoring more than 220 and followed it up with an outstanding performance with the ball to seal two points for the team. It was a tough night for Kolkata Knight Riders yet again and they have to do plenty of improvements to bounce back. They have now lost two matches in a row this season and have to change their fortunes quickly.

Ishan Kishan | SRH Captain

I was happy with everyone putting the effort.I don't think the pitch wasn't that good. Head and Abhishek made our game easy. It was a complete team effort. Our plan was to take wickets. Harsh just bowled that ball and we were lucky to get that wicket. Harsh has been doing well for his domestic team as well. I would like to talk about Shivang, he bowled exceptionally well. He was bowling with big heart. He did the job for us. (Areas to improve) Fielding is something we need to work on as a team. 10-20 runs makes a huge difference.

Ajinkya Rahane | KKR captain:

Yeah, I thought, no, we did a couple of big partnerships. Guys who were set, they needed to take it deep in the end with the ball [bat]. I thought we came back really well for 7-8 overs. Within the [10] overs, I thought they were 130, 140-odd. But with the ball, I thought we came back really well. In batting, when you're chasing the target, you know you need that partnership. We couldn't get that. (Did the extra grass make the pitch play differently?) I thought the second innings, I felt the ball was slightly stopping. The slower balls were gripping a lot more than the first innings. And that's what we, I don't know, we thought the wicket will get better but the ball was little stopping. But again, see, no excuses. We got the good start. I thought first six overs we were 78. We lost that one extra wicket. Green is run out. But apart from that, we were going really well. As I said, middle overs were the crucial time for us. We needed that partnership from the set batters. That just didn't happen. I thought SRH bowlers executed the slower balls and the angles what they used was really good. (Winning home games are important. What next will they have to do?) Yes, absolutely. I mean, winning a game, home game is really important. So, we'll have to just go back in the drawing room, just think about our combination. If bowling, if we can get extra batter in our lineup, we'll have to think about that. But again, we got 3-4 days. We don't want to think too much. I think guys are doing really well. Just one off day with the bat. Last game we did really well. Just needed those small partnerships. I think if the batters can have that positive mindset and this extra awareness while batting, I think we'll be fine.

Jaydev Unadkat | Purple Cap holder :

Thank you, everybody. It’s very early in the season, but yeah, happy to get this whenever I can. (How does it feel to play in your late 30's) Yeah, I feel it’s, like you said, you know, experience counts. It’s about not worrying what people on the outside talk. Whatever works on the day works. Cutters were working today, so we stuck to that. We bowled into the pitch, got some good wickets in between, got a lucky breakthrough and got that run out. So, yeah, pretty happy with the bowling performance. We didn’t bowl well in the first game. I think we didn’t execute our plans, but today was a good performance overall. I think while our batting innings was going on, and obviously the feedback from our batters was that the wicket is double-paced, the ball was sticking on the pitch. So, yeah, always working together and the communication worked. I always try and keep two options open on top of the mark and just see what the batter is trying to do, if he’s trying to move around or if he’s just trying to clear his leg. And most of the times it’s deciding on top of the mark. Sometimes you’re going to mix at the end. Changing the angles, trying to keep the batsman guessing all the time. Obviously the pitches and the grounds make you feel like you get hit on good balls as well. So, just keep doing different stuff and make the batsman guessing all the time. I think that’s what worked for me today.

Read Also:- IPL 2026 Purple Cap

Nitish Kumar Reddy | Player of the Match:

I mean, it's really good. It's just the match-winning performance I've been waiting for a long time. Thankfully, I have delivered at the right time. Even for my bowling, I got some boundaries on my own runs as well. (What you have been through in the last few months and what have you worked on?) It's just I'm trying to be positive because there have been very... too many negative thoughts in my mind because the last season was not gone in my way and too many injuries. I didn't bowl last season and I know I wanted to work on my bowling a bit and I got some break. But just before coming to IPL season, I really worked hard on my bowling and it's really good and I worked really, really hard and it's shown on the ground and really, really happy. (How good is your body feeling?) I'm feeling very good now. I mean, thanks to the trainers and the physios who have been taking care of me. I mean, my body is feeling fit now

Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma got SRH off to a great start and from that position Klassen smashed a half century to take them to an excellent total. In reply, Sunrisers Hyderabad bowlers delivered under pressure with Unadkat picking up three wickets while Malinga and Nitish Reddy picked up two wickets. It was an excellent performance from Sunrisers Hyderabad who have improved their NRR and will go into the next game with plenty of confidence.