Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Lucknow Super Giants Match Scorecard – Thrilling Last-Ball Heist at Eden Gardens

Eden Gardens witnessed one of the most dramatic finishes of IPL 2026 on April 9, as Lucknow Super Giants pulled off an extraordinary last-ball heist against Kolkata Knight Riders. In a match that swung in every direction, the Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Lucknow Super Giants Match Scorecard tells the story of a game KKR nearly won — and then inexplicably lost. Chasing a challenging 182, LSG were reduced to 128/7 in the 16th over, staring at near-certain defeat, before an unknown 23-year-old named Mukul Choudhary rewrote the script entirely.

Choudhary’s unbeaten 54 off just 27 balls — seven sixes included — single-handedly dragged LSG over the line in what will be remembered as one of the IPL’s great individual match-winning efforts. For KKR, who had fought back brilliantly through skipper Ajinkya Rahane (41) and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (45) to post 181/4, it was another devastating loss in what is shaping up to be a torrid season. The Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Lucknow Super Giants Match Scorecard from IPL 2026 Match 15 is more than just numbers — it is pure cricket drama.

Match Summary: Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Lucknow Super Giants

Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata | Date: April 9, 2026 | Match: IPL 2026, Match 15 | Toss: LSG won, elected to bowl

KKR laid a solid foundation through their top order before a middle-over squeeze from LSG’s spinners halted their momentum. Powell and Green rescued the innings late, posting a competitive 181. In the chase, LSG’s top order collapsed alarmingly under pressure from Vaibhav Arora, before Ayush Badoni steadied the ship. The true magic arrived in the 13th over when Mukul Choudhary walked in at 104/5 and changed everything. The final over produced 14 runs with Choudhary and Avesh Khan scrambling the winning single off the very last ball, completing one of the most stunning finishes in recent IPL history.

Batting Highlights: Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Lucknow Super Giants

KKR Innings: 181/4 in 20 Overs

Fall of Wickets: 1-15 (Finn Allen, 1.4 ov) • 2-99 (Ajinkya Rahane, 10.2 ov) • 3-105 (Angkrish Raghuvanshi, 11.4 ov) • 4-111 (Rinku Singh, 13.2 ov)

Did not bat: Ramandeep Singh, AS Roy, SP Narine, NA Saini, Kartik Tyagi, VG Arora

Rahane and Raghuvanshi’s 84-run partnership was the innings’ backbone, taking KKR from Allen’s early dismissal (1.4 ov) to a commanding 99/1 at the halfway mark. Rathi’s sharp catch off Shami ended Rahane’s fluent 41 in the 11th over, and Raghuvanshi followed two overs later — both perishing in that dangerous 10-13 over stretch when LSG’s spinners took complete control. Rinku Singh’s scratchy 4 off 7 balls deepened KKR’s mid-innings wobble, leaving Powell and Green to rescue the innings. Their unbeaten 70-run blitz — Powell’s aggression (39* off 24) perfectly complementing Green’s measured 32* off 24 — powered KKR to a competitive 181.

LSG Chase: 182/7 in 20 Overs

Fall of Wickets: 1-41 (Aiden Markram, 4.1 ov) • 2-42 (Mitchell Marsh, 4.3 ov) • 3-73 (Rishabh Pant, 8.2 ov) • 4-95 (Nicholas Pooran, 11.4 ov) • 5-104 (Abdul Samad, 12.5 ov) • 6-125 (Ayush Badoni, 14.4 ov) • 7-128 (Mohammed Shami, 15.6 ov)

Did not bat: DS Rathi, Prince Yadav, M Siddharth

The opening stand of 41 in 25 balls looked promising, but Arora’s back-to-back wickets — Markram caught at point (4.1 ov) and Marsh taken by the keeper (4.3 ov) — reduced LSG to 42/2 in the space of two deliveries. Pant lasted only 9 balls before Green’s first wicket of the season sent him packing at 73/3. Badoni stood firm, building steadiness through the middle overs before a stunning 54 off 34 balls (7 fours, 2 sixes). Pooran’s 13 came and went; Samad managed just 2; Shami fell for 1. At 128/7 with 54 needed off 24 balls, LSG’s cause was all but lost — until Choudhary’s 54* off 27 (2 fours, 7 sixes, SR: 200.00) alongside Avesh Khan’s composed presence at the other end produced one of the great IPL finishes.

Bowling Figures: Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Lucknow Super Giants

KKR Bowling (LSG Chase)

Arora and Roy were KKR’s two-wicket men — Arora’s double strike in the powerplay (removing Markram and Marsh in successive deliveries) set the tone, while Roy’s economical 8.00 per over dismissed both Badoni and Samad in the middle overs. The real revelation was Narine, who was simply sensational — conceding just 13 runs in 4 overs at 3.25, with 14 dot balls. His tightness kept LSG’s run rate under pressure through the crucial 12–15 over period. Saini (12.33) and Green (14.00) were the costly ones in the death, and Choudhary targeted them mercilessly — Green’s 19th over leaked 16 runs as the tide turned decisively. Tyagi’s 10.33 economy showed he could not stem the flow either when the game was on the line.

LSG Bowling (KKR Innings)

Shami (6.75 econ, 0 wickets) and Rathi (6.25 econ, 1 wicket) were LSG’s most controlled operators. Shami troubled Allen persistently in the powerplay before Prince Yadav took the edge to get the prized scalp, though Yadav’s own 4 overs leaked 47 runs at 11.75, with seven fours conceded. Rathi’s miserly spell of 25 runs in 4 overs — including 9 dot balls and zero sixes conceded — was the turning point of KKR’s innings, breaking the Rahane–Raghuvanshi stand right when it threatened to put the game beyond LSG. Siddharth (8.50) was equally effective with his dismissal of Raghuvanshi. Avesh Khan’s 44 runs (11.00 economy) showed KKR’s power hitters could find boundaries off his pace when needed.

Key Moments & Tactical Analysis: Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Lucknow Super Giants

Toss Impact: LSG’s Rishabh Pant won the toss and elected to bowl, a decision entirely in line with the dew factor and pitch dynamics at Eden Gardens in the evening. History and conditions strongly favoured the chasing side, and while the decision looked wrong for most of the chase, the dew eventually came to LSG’s rescue in the final overs, softening the ball and making it harder to grip for KKR’s death bowlers.

Powerplay Momentum: KKR lost Allen early but Rahane counter-attacked brilliantly, smashing a six off Avesh Khan and taking KKR to 56/1 in six overs. LSG’s powerplay response was equally swift — Arora’s double-wicket fifth over reduced LSG to 56/2, immediately cancelling out the opening stand and putting KKR firmly in control of the game.

The Turning Point: The match had two entirely opposite turning points. For KKR’s innings, it was Rathi and Siddharth breaking the Rahane–Raghuvanshi partnership in overs 11–12. For LSG’s chase, it was the moment Mukul Choudhary stepped to the crease with 78 runs needed off 42 balls and tailenders for company. The 13th over changed everything.

Captaincy Decisions: Pant’s call to bring in Badoni as an impact player proved inspired. On the KKR side, Rahane’s decision to open the final over with five fielders inside the ring — on hearing Mukul was on strike — backfired dramatically. Conventional wisdom against a power-hitter at that stage would have demanded attacking fields. The gamble of keeping fielders up proved costly as Choudhary found the boundary with ease.

Pitch/Dew Factor: On a slow Eden Gardens surface, scoring runs in the first innings was never straightforward. The pitch gripped the ball through the middle overs, which is exactly why the spinners thrived for both teams. By the second innings, dew had settled in, making it noticeably harder for Arora and Tyagi to execute their variations — a factor that played directly into Choudhary’s hands in the death.

Key Stats Comparison: Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Lucknow Super Giants

The stats paint a fascinating contrast. KKR dominated the boundary count — 18 fours to LSG’s 12 — relying on ground-level strokeplay, while LSG hit a staggering 12 sixes to KKR’s 8, showing their chase was built on explosive power hitting rather than placement. Narine’s economy of 3.25 against LSG was the best bowling figure of the match by a distance, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Choudhary storm in the final three overs. The powerplay differential is stark: KKR’s 56/1 versus LSG’s 42/2 shows how much better KKR started — yet it was LSG who crossed the line.

Head-to-Head Analysis & Historical Rivalry: Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Lucknow Super Giants

The Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Lucknow Super Giants rivalry, while relatively young, has quickly become one of the most competitive in the IPL. After this match, LSG lead the all-time head-to-head record convincingly.

Historical Rivalry: The two franchises first met in 2022 when LSG were brand new to the IPL. Despite that, they quickly established dominance over KKR. Notably, KKR’s two wins over LSG both came in the 2024 season — the same year KKR won the IPL title. In the Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Lucknow Super Giants Matches played at Eden Gardens across multiple seasons, LSG now boast a 3-1 record in Kolkata — a ground where KKR are expected to hold the home advantage.

The IPL 2025 encounter between the sides also went LSG’s way by a narrow 4 runs, a pattern that reinforces their knack for edging KKR in close finishes. The Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Lucknow Super Giants Timeline of close finishes reveals that whenever these two sides meet, drama is guaranteed. Whether it is Rishabh Pant’s aggressive captaincy or KKR’s batting inconsistencies in pressure moments, this fixture has consistently produced edge-of-seat cricket.

In terms of Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Lucknow Super Giants Players who have shaped this rivalry — Nicholas Pooran and Ayush Badoni have been thorns in KKR’s side repeatedly, while KKR’s strength has often come from Sunil Narine’s spin and Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s consistency. With Mukul Choudhary now adding his name to the list of match-winners against KKR, LSG have another weapon to fear.

Looking at Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Lucknow Super Giants Stats across all seven meetings, LSG’s superiority in close finishes is the defining trend. They have now won twice by 3 wickets or fewer, showing a remarkable ability to absorb pressure and hold their nerve when it matters most.

Read Also: Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Mumbai Indians Match Scorecard

Conclusion

This was an extraordinary Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Lucknow Super Giants Match Scorecard result that will be debated for years. LSG’s win moves them to fifth on the Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Lucknow Super Giants Standings with four points from three games, while KKR remain stranded in ninth place — still without a win and dangerously adrift early in the campaign. For Ajinkya Rahane, the manner of defeat — from a position of such dominance — will sting deeply.

What’s next: KKR desperately need a course correction, both in terms of form and faith. Their bowling attack without Varun Chakravarthy and Blessing Muzarabani looks thin, and their middle order continues to let them down. LSG, buoyed by Choudhary’s breakout knock and Badoni’s growing confidence, will carry tremendous momentum into their upcoming fixtures.

The Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Lucknow Super Giants rivalry just got its most dramatic chapter yet — and based on current form, LSG look very much like a playoff contender while KKR’s IPL 2026 campaign is already entering crisis territory.

❓ FAQs: Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Lucknow Super Giants Match Scorecard

What was the final score?

KKR posted 181/4 in 20 overs; LSG chased it down to finish 182/7 in 20 overs, winning by 3 wickets on the last ball.

Who was Player of the Match?

Mukul Choudhary (LSG) — for his match-winning unbeaten 54 off 27 balls including seven sixes.

Who scored the most runs?

Both Ayush Badoni (54 off 34) and Mukul Choudhary (54* off 27) top-scored for LSG. Angkrish Raghuvanshi (45) led for KKR.

Who took the most wickets?

Vaibhav Arora and Anukul Roy both took 2 wickets each for KKR. Multiple LSG bowlers took one wicket apiece.

What was the turning point?

The match turned when Mukul Choudhary arrived at the crease with LSG at 104/5 (later collapsing to 128/7) and single-handedly dismantled KKR’s bowling in the death overs to seal an improbable last-ball win.