IPL 2026: KKR Beat LSG in Season’s First Super Over as Rinku Singh’s 83 and Sunil Narine’s Magic Stun Lucknow at Ekana Stadium
Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Lucknow Super Giants in the first Super Over of IPL 2026 at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Sunday, 26 April 2026, in one of the most dramatic finishes in the tournament’s history. Rinku Singh’s extraordinary innings of 83 off 51 balls, which included four consecutive sixes in the final over, was the foundation of KKR’s total of 155 for 7, while Sunil Narine’s devastating Super Over spell — conceding just one run and taking two wickets — sealed an unforgettable victory for the visitors.
Rinku Singh’s 83 Anchors KKR’s Total of 155
After being put in to bat, Kolkata Knight Riders found themselves in early trouble as the Lucknow bowling attack made incisive early breakthroughs. The top order struggled against disciplined pace bowling, and KKR were reduced to a precarious position in the middle overs. However, Rinku Singh — fast becoming one of the most reliable finishers in the IPL — steadied the innings with a measured yet explosive knock.
Rinku accumulated runs through shrewd placement before unleashing a devastating assault in the death overs. His innings of 83 off 51 balls was studded with six sixes and four boundaries, including a breathtaking sequence of four consecutive sixes off the final over bowled by Digvesh Singh Rathi. That over alone yielded 28 runs and catapulted KKR from a middling total to a competitive 155 for 7 in their allotted 20 overs.
Rinku’s performance was a masterclass in situational awareness. He rotated strike efficiently during the middle overs, ensured he was on strike for the crucial final overs, and then unleashed calculated aggression that left the Lucknow fielders scrambling. His innings extended his remarkable record as the most prolific finisher in IPL history, further cementing comparisons with the legendary MS Dhoni in the death overs.
LSG’s Chase Stumbles Before Shami’s Last-Ball Heroics
Chasing 156, Lucknow Super Giants’ batting lineup — one of the most expensive ever assembled — failed to fire in unison. The KKR bowlers operated with excellent discipline, picking up wickets at regular intervals and building pressure through dot balls. Captain Rishabh Pant, despite his undoubted talent, was unable to anchor the chase effectively.
At 129 for 7 in the 19th over, the match appeared to be firmly in KKR’s grasp. LSG needed 27 runs off the final 10 balls, a near-impossible task. But Mohammed Shami and Himmat Singh refused to surrender. Shami, better known for his bowling, launched a stunning counter-attack in the final over bowled by Kartik Tyagi, which also featured a couple of costly no-balls from the KKR pacer.
With LSG needing seven off the final ball, Shami cleared his front leg and smashed a towering six over long-off to level the scores, sending the Ekana Stadium into pandemonium and taking the match into a Super Over — the first of IPL 2026. It was a barely believable finish to a match that had seemed settled moments earlier.
Narine’s Devastating Super Over Bowls LSG Out for 1
In a tactical masterstroke, KKR captain chose Sunil Narine — the veteran all-rounder and spin bowling legend — to bowl the Super Over. LSG’s response was to send out Nicholas Pooran on strike, with Aiden Markram as his partner. It was a decision that would be heavily scrutinised.
Narine bowled Pooran with the very first delivery — a classic off-spinner that gripped and turned, crashing into the stumps as Pooran attempted to heave the ball into the leg side. Remarkably, this was not the first time Narine had dismissed Pooran in a Super Over; the only previous maiden Super Over in T20 cricket history was bowled by Narine to Pooran in the 2014 Caribbean Premier League.
Markram fell next, also bowled by Narine, as the spinner’s accuracy and turn proved unplayable. Pant managed a solitary single, meaning LSG finished the Super Over on just one run — the lowest total ever recorded in an IPL Super Over. It was a historic and humiliating collapse under the brightest of spotlights. Also read: Punjab Kings’ record-breaking chase in IPL 2026.
Rinku Singh Seals Victory With a Boundary
In reply, KKR sent in Rinku Singh and Rovman Powell to chase the paltry target of two runs. The match ended on the very first delivery as Rinku whipped a Prince Yadav delivery through the off side for a boundary, sparking wild celebrations among the KKR contingent. The victory was completed in emphatic style, with Rinku finishing as the undisputed hero of a pulsating contest.
The win lifted KKR from 10th to 8th in the IPL 2026 points table, their second victory of the season providing a much-needed boost to their campaign. For LSG, the defeat — their sixth in eight matches — was a bitter pill to swallow, leaving them rooted to the bottom of the standings.
Pant Under Pressure as LSG’s Season Unravels
The defeat intensified scrutiny on LSG captain Rishabh Pant, whose decision to send Pooran to face Narine in the Super Over drew widespread criticism. Speaking after the match, Pant admitted his team was under immense pressure. “We need a break,” he said candidly. “The pressure has been building, and sometimes in pressure situations, decisions don’t go your way.”
LSG coach Justin Langer defended the decision, noting that Pooran was their designated power-hitter, but acknowledged that the outcome was disappointing. The franchise has now won only two of eight matches this season and faces an uphill battle to qualify for the playoffs. Fans on social media were less forgiving, with many questioning whether Pant should have been aware of Pooran’s woeful record against Narine in Super Overs.
Also Read: How SRH chased down 229 against Rajasthan Royals behind Sooryavanshi’s record century
Also Read: Sanju Samson’s match-winning unbeaten 101 in the CSK-MI El Clasico
Also Read: IPL 2026 Saturday double header: RCB vs PBKS and RR vs SRH results
Also Read: Lungi Ngidi’s scary head injury during DC vs PBKS in IPL 2026
- Rishabh Pant Admits to Pressure and Welcomes Break as LSG Hit Rock Bottom in IPL 2026 After Super Over Debacle Against KKR - April 27, 2026
- IPL 2026: Gujarat Titans Chase Down 159 to Beat Chennai Super Kings by 8 Wickets at Chepauk as Shubman Gill Stars With the Bat - April 27, 2026
- IPL 2026: KKR Beat LSG in Season’s First Super Over as Rinku Singh’s 83 and Sunil Narine’s Magic Stun Lucknow at Ekana Stadium - April 27, 2026
