Once the powerplay concluded, Allen really turned up the heat against the Titans’ bowlers, smashing his half-century off just 21 balls in the eighth over. In a stunning display, he scored 43 runs off his next 13 balls, relentlessly attacking the Titans' bowling attack. He eventually fell for a blistering 93 off 35 balls, laying a solid foundation for the Knight Riders. 

From that point, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who had been playing a supporting role to Allen, stepped up as the main batter. He received excellent support from Cameron Green, and together they built an impressive unbeaten partnership of 108 runs off just 53 balls. Raghuvanshi reached his half-century in 32 balls, and his explosive finish saw him end up not out on 82 off just 44 balls. Green also contributed significantly, finishing not out on 52 off 28 balls, helping the three-time champions post a massive total of 247/2. 

Also Read | Knights unite! Watch Shubman Gills shares warmth with KKR legend Sunil Narine at Kolkata

The Titans began their innings on a high note, with Sai Sudharsan aggressively targeting the Knight Riders' bowlers during the powerplay. Unfortunately, Sudharsan had to retire early in the third over after being struck on the elbow. Nishant Sindhu, who came in at number 3, fell quickly, bringing the seasoned Jos Buttler to the crease. Alongside Titans’ skipper Shubman Gill, they set about the task of rebuilding their innings against the daunting target. 

Gill and Buttler put together a solid partnership of 128 runs, but the Kolkata Knight Riders kept the chase in check, with Sunil Narine shining in his 200th IPL match, taking 2 wickets for 29 runs. With this victory, KKR kept their playoff hopes alive with 11 points, while the Gujarat Titans remained in second place with 16 points from 13 matches.

Key Stats and Major Milestones from IPL 2026 Match 60

• Sunil Narine became the first overseas cricketer to feature in 200 IPL matches.
• Narine also became only the fourth player to play 200 games for a single IPL franchise.
• Kolkata Knight Riders became just the second team to play 100 IPL matches at one venue — Eden Gardens.
• KKR smashed 22 sixes, equalling the second-highest tally in a single IPL innings.
• KKR posted 247/2, their third-highest total in IPL history.
• Three KKR batters registered 50+ scores, equalling the franchise record for most fifty-plus scores in an innings.
• Angkrish Raghuvanshi recorded his fifth 50+ score of the season, joint second-most for KKR in a single IPL edition.
• Shubman Gill achieved back-to-back 500+ run IPL seasons as captain.
• Finn Allen crossed the 5,500-run mark in T20 cricket.
• Cameron Green completed 1,000 IPL runs.
• Sai Sudharsan reached 3,000 T20 runs.
• Sudharsan also became the fastest batter to 3,000 T20 runs in terms of innings played, achieving the milestone in just 78 innings.
• Gill completed 3,000 runs for Gujarat Titans.
• Mohammed Siraj reached the milestone of 200 wickets in T20 cricket.

Fans have begun turning up to the grounds just to see the young teen batting in the nets. Prior to the Rajasthan Royals match against the Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium one fan even pleaded with a security guard to let him inside just so he could watch Sooryavanshi bat.

“Bhaiyya, can I go inside the stadium so that I can watch Sooryavanshi practice? I just want to see him,” one Rajiv Yadav, a cricket fan from Manesar, was heard requesting from the security guard. The request was turned down but perfectly conveyed how the young batter is being celebrated.

During his practice session the youngster had his bat out for approximately 40 minutes. It was a spell that would suggest that it’s not so much about the ball but rather that it needs to be attacked by his bat. Defences seem to play no role for Sooryavanshi at all indeed, his ability to hit the ball almost anywhere has been the story of this IPL.

The left-hander has amassed 440 runs in 11 games at an average of 40. He has an excellent strike rate of 236.55-the highest among the top ten run-scorers of IPL 2026. With 40 sixes so far he has already hit more sixes than any other player this season.

Also Read | Gujarat Titans Not Qualified Yet? Ravi Shastri’s On-Air Mistake Creates Buzz

Sangakkara and Bell appreciate Sooryavanshi’s fearless approach

Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara stressed that the team wants to help the youngster enjoy his cricket avoiding unnecessary pressure on his young shoulders.

Sangakkara explained:

"The key for Vaibhav is to enjoy every moment. The worst thing we can do is clutter his mind. We have a conversation with him if he needs it. One thing Vaibhav loves is his batting. And the most important thing about him is that I've seen he reads the game very well. He's a smart little kid and he will keep understanding himself and the game. Sometimes the best thing is to let Vaibhav be Vaibhav,"

The head coach admitted that bowlers globally would soon be working out ways to get the young batter out.

He concluded:

"As he starts playing more international cricket, bowlers will try to plan against him. The one thing he should never lose is his enjoyment of batting. He isn't a special project for us but a special player." 

Delhi Capitals coach Ian Bell also had his say regarding the 15-year-old's incredible ability.

Bell stated:

"The challenge for any young player is that you've to keep evolving, but he's a scary talent,"

Each match that goes by will likely cement Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's reputation as one of the brightest young talents in the country.

Former India batter Subramaniam Badrinath blamed CSK's team selection for the loss and was particularly critical of leaving out spinner Akeal Hosein on a surface where the ball was assisting spinners.

Taking to X, the former CSK batter didn't mince his words.

Wrote Badrinath:

"CSK losing because of team selection errors is becoming a pattern this season. Leaving out Akeal Hosein on this track made zero sense. Another game, another missed opportunity," 

This was after CSK failed to defend a challenging 188 against a dominant LSG side that looked unfazed throughout the chase.

Also Read | Jasprit Bumrah Likely to Miss Part of IND vs AFG Series

Ruturaj Gaikwad admits LSG played better cricket

Speaking after the match the CSK skipper conceded that the Lucknow Super Giants played a superior game taking full advantage of the pitch conditions.

Gaikwad stated:

"There was a bit of something for the fast bowlers. Found it difficult to hit it off a hard length. We were looking at 160-170, and got 180. Nothing much better we could have done from a batting point of view," 

He went on to praise the LSG batting effort and admitted that his bowlers failed to execute the game plan correctly.

He added:

"They (LSG) batted well and played some extraordinary shots. We were looking (to bowl the short ball) but Inglis played differently in the last game, and Marsh plays the short ball well, so we were trying to hit a hard length. We missed on execution but they played extraordinary shots," 

The five time IPL champions are now in a precarious position in the IPL 2026 points table, and need to win both of their remaining league matches, alongside favourable results from other games to have any chance of qualifying for the playoffs.

The Chennai Super Kings will next lock horns with the Sunrisers Hyderabad at their home ground the MA Chidambaram Stadium, on May 18. This mustwin clash is crucial for their playoff aspirations.

Dhoni has yet to feature in a game this season following a calf injury sustained in practice in the run-up to the tournament. While he was originally only expected to miss the first two weeks he has been sidelined far longer than anticipated.

Several reports of Dhoni's readiness have filtered through but the former CSK captain has yet to feature in any matchday squads and has also not travelled with the team for away games.

Ashwin, who maintains good relationships with several players and management staff inside the CSK setup has stated that Dhoni is actually ready to return and has been for a few games now.

Ashwin revealed on his YouTube channel:

"If you see him now, who else will be such a quality pace hitter? So wait and see. I think there is a good chance of MS Dhoni playing in the next match against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Let's wait and see. Whatever I know is he has been ready to play for the last two to three matches," 

Also Read | Disaster At Eden Gardens As Pathirana Suffers Another Calf Injury Scare

Dhoni's potential return boosts CSK's playoff chances.

CSK are still battling for a place in the IPL 2026 playoffs and the game against SRH is critical to their hopes. A recent defeat against Lucknow Super Giants has cranked up the pressure ahead of the closing league games.

CSK coach Stephen Fleming revealed earlier in the season that Dhoni had suffered a setback in his rehabilitation while batting coach Michael Hussey explained that Dhoni was fit to bat but not overall match fit in running and moving.

It was even reported that Dhoni was unwilling to disrupt a settled side while the team was in the midst of the playoff chase however after defeat to LSG, alterations to the line-up are almost certain.

Could this be Dhoni's final game in Chepauk?

Monday's encounter against SRH is also CSK's final home game of IPL 2026 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium and this has understandably reignited retirement rumors surrounding MS Dhoni.

If Dhoni plays the game against SRH it is possible fans may witness his final game in the Chepauk stadium however, Dhoni has defied retirement calls during periods of peak speculation in the past.

The wait is now on for CSK to announce their final team for the game on Monday.

Narine reached a significant achievement in his IPL career when KKR competed against Gujarat Titans in the 60th match of IPL 2026 at Eden Gardens. He has now become one of the players with the most appearances for a single franchise in IPL history.

The veteran spinner for KKR has achieved 203 wicket victories in IPL matches while his bowling performance reached a peak of 5 wickets for 19 runs. He has maintained an exceptional economy rate of 6.78 throughout his entire IPL playing career. Narine reached his 200th KKR match milestone during the Gujarat Titans match while his bowling statistics showed his performance. 

Narine achieved this milestone which enabled him to join the select group of IPL legends who have played the most games for a single team. Virat Kohli leads the chart with 279 matches for Royal Challengers Bengaluru since the inaugural IPL season in 2008.

MS Dhoni holds second place with 248 matches for Chennai Super Kings while Rohit Sharma has appeared in 239 games for Mumbai Indians.

Narine reached his latest achievement which establishes him as one of the true IPL legends. The mystery spinner and handy pinch-hitter has repeatedly delivered match-winning results for KKR by successfully eliminating batters throughout his career.

Narine has participated in 10 matches for IPL 2026 through which he has achieved 11 wickets. His economy rate of 6.64 represents an exceptional achievement for spinners during this season despite his total number of wickets not reaching remarkable levels. His current strike rate operates at 21.00.

The numbers demonstrate Narian's ability to create spin on various playing surfaces while he restricts established batsmen from scoring points. His strongest bowling displays this season occurred when he played against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals, which resulted in two wickets during each match.

Also Read | Knights unite! Watch Shubman Gills shares warmth with KKR legend Sunil Narine at Kolkata

Narine's outstanding performance enables him to excel at his position, yet KKR requires multiple victories to reach the IPL 2026 playoffs. Kolkata needs to win all three of their remaining league matches to maintain their playoff hopes after their loss to RCB. 

The team needs to achieve their goal but requires multiple game results to go their way while maintaining an effective net run rate. The current season has reduced KKR's playoff chances because their opponents demonstrate more reliable performance while achieving better net run rates.

At the official toss presentation Shastri wrongly stated that Gujarat Titans have already sealed a playoff spot for the IPL 2026 tournament. The statement was made while he was in conversation with GT skipper Shubman Gill who had yet again won a coin toss.

Shastri asked while on live commentary:

"You've got the Q alphabet already stamped against your team, how are you approaching this one?," 

Gujarat Titans hadn't mathematically qualified for the IPL 2026 playoffs at that point of the tournament. The comment of course, became the talk of Twitter as many supporters were quick to point it out.

Interestingly Gill did not correct the Shastri at any point during the interview. Instead, the GT skipper turned the conversation towards the remaining few games for his side and how it is important for them to carry the momentum forward into the latter stages of the league stage.

Gill added:

"It's about how the momentum is with us and we have to consistently keep doing the things that we have been doing well. This is not the stage or the time to take any team lightly, but we're hoping to win the next two and be stable in the top two positions." 

Also Read | Sai Sudharsan Injury Shocks GT Ahead of India Test Squad

KKR put up a massive total following a brilliant batting show

After winning the toss Gujarat Titans elected to bowl and invited Kolkata Knight Riders to bat first. The Knights came out with one of their most commanding batting efforts of the season, finishing the first innings with 247/2 in 20 overs.

Skippers Ajinkya Rahane once again failed with the bat and could only manage to score 14 runs. However the innings was all about Finn Allen's sensational batting effort as he smashed 93 off just 35 deliveries which included four boundaries and as many as 10 sixes which simply took the game away from Gujarat Titans.

Young Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Cameron Green put on a partnership of over a hundred runs in the middle order and both reached their respective half centuries which took KKR to a daunting first innings total. Gujarat Titans, despite all the pressure, entered the fixture as one of the top sides on the points table with 16 points from 12 games.

Kolkata Knight Riders were precariously placed in the eighth spot on the points table with nine points from 11 games and needed a victory to stay in the hunt for a playoff berth.

The news about Rahmat Shah dying was proven to be completely untrue. The confusion started because multiple people translated an Instagram post which Afghanistan crickicketer Karim Janat shared.

The problem began when Karim Janat posted a condolence message in Pashto on Instagram. Users depended on Instagram's automated translation tool to understand the content. The translation system produced results which created significant misunderstanding because it led people to believe that Rahmat Shah had died.

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Karim Janat (@karimjanat_11)

Social media users began to share the message again without checking its actual content. The incorrect translation led many cricket fans to believe that the Afghan batter had died which caused them to begin mourning his death.

The Instagram message which users translated showed that Karim Janat was mourning the "death of Rahmat Shah." The information spread through social platforms because users accepted it as true. The actual meaning of the post was revealed through a later Google Translate translation. The original message reported the death of Rahmat Shah's mother which resulted in people misunderstanding his death.

Karim Janat's post served as a tribute to Rahmat Shah and his family during their time of mourning. The message also prayed for peace for the deceased and strength for the grieving family. The viral rumors started because a translation error created false information about the matter. The public misunderstanding of the matter spread quickly because users shared unverified information without checking its accuracy first.

The official announcement about Rahmat Shah's death remains unverified at this time. The Afghanistan batter continues to live because all social media reports about his death are completely false. Rahmat Shah continues to remain one of the key players for Afghanistan. The experienced batter has played an important role in Afghanistan cricket's rise on the international stage throughout his entire career.

Read also: Arshdeep Singh Faces Backlash Over Snapchat Post, PBKS Break Silence

The right-handed batter has played 11 Test matches and 125 One-Day Internationals and one T20 International for Afghanistan. He has delivered multiple outstanding performances which he achieved during major tournaments for his country. Rahmat Shah last played an ODI match against Bangladesh which took place in November 2025.

Rahmat Shah will join the Afghanistan national team for their upcoming series against India. Afghanistan's India tour will take place after the conclusion of IPL 2026.

The tour will start with a one-off Test match at the PCA New Cricket Stadium from June 6 to June 10. The teams will compete in a three-match ODI series after the Test match. The ODI matches will take place on June 14 in Dharamsala June 17 in Lucknow and June 20 in Chennai.

The Mumbai Indians organization and the Board of Control for Cricket in India have made it their primary goal to control Bumrah's playing time. The star pacer began his strength and conditioning training at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru before IPL 2026 started.

His performance has been affected by the demanding schedule that he must follow. Jasprit Bumrah has taken only three wickets in 12 matches so far, although he has sustained an acceptable economy rate of 8.80.However, his bowling average has risen sharply to 128. The BCCI has begun workload management preparations because India will compete in multiple international matches throughout the year.

According to a PTI report, Bumrah may not feature in both the Test and ODI series against Afghanistan after the IPL 2026 season ends. The Indian team management wants to keep the fast bowler from experiencing additional pressure.

India will compete against Afghanistan in a one-off Test match which will take place in New Chandigarh between June 6 and 10. The two teams will compete in a three-match ODI series which will take place later in the month. The ODI matches will take place in Dharamsala on June 14 Lucknow on June 17 and Chennai on June 20.

The reports before the series stated that Bumrah would probably compete in only one of the two contests against Afghanistan. The Indian team management wants to prevent his body from becoming overloaded because he already completed an extensive IPL season.

The selectors will determine whether Bumrah should participate in the Test match or the ODI series. He could receive rest from the ODIs if he plays in the Test match. He will likely miss the one-off Test if he participates in the ODI series.

Bumrah's Test cricket commitment will determine his final decision despite the one-off Test against Afghanistan not being part of the ICC World Test Championship. Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna will lead India's pace attack if he misses the Test.

Read also: Arshdeep Singh Faces Backlash Over Snapchat Post, PBKS Break Silence

The Indian team currently deals with injury problems because Akash Deep and Harshit Rana need time to recover from their injuries. The current circumstances might present an opportunity for Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi who achieved success during the Ranji Trophy season by collecting 60 wickets.

The team combination will determine whether Nabi gets selected for the match. The last Test series that Bumrah participated in took place last year when he played against South Africa at home. The fast bowler delivered an impressive performance and picked up eight wickets in two matches although India lost the series 0-2.

Jacob Bethell has started games for RCB since Salt sustained his injury. The young batter has struggled to deliver impactful performances on a regular basis.

The RCB fans wanted news about Salt's return because their team needed to reach the top two spots in the IPL 2026 points table before the playoffs. The franchise finally received fresh optimism after captain Rajat Patidar spoke following their commanding victory over Kolkata Knight Riders.

RCB won their match against KKR which led Rajat Patidar to discuss Salt's availability for upcoming matches.  The RCB skipper provided no specific return date but his remarks indicated that the England opener would return to play very soon.  His statement has now given RCB fans renewed hope ahead of the crucial clash against PBKS. 

Salt stands as one of RCB's most dangerous batters during this season. The aggressive opener established explosive power play starts before he suffered his injury while he created a successful opening partnership with Virat Kohli. The England batter scored valuable runs earlier in the tournament and maintained a strike rate above 160 before the injury ruled him out.

RCB have stayed competitive without Salt, but the side has clearly missed his attacking approach during the first six overs. Jacob Bethell received an extended opportunity in the playing XI after Salt’s absence. The youngster failed to transform his opportunities into steady performance.

The current situation has created urgent demands for RCB to reinstate Salt into their team without delay. Salt's aggressive batting approach lets Kohli bat from one end while the team maintains continuous scoring from another end. RCB's batting order becomes more stable when Salt bats aggressively during power play.

The timing of his potential return is equally important because RCB have now entered the crucial phase of IPL 2026. At present, RCB have not officially confirmed Salt’s availability for Match 61 against Punjab Kings.

Also Read | Knights unite! Watch Shubman Gills shares warmth with KKR legend Sunil Narine at Kolkata

Patidar's recent statements indicate that the opener will soon return to action. Salt's training progress before the match will determine whether the management makes a final decision. Royal Challengers Bangalore will wait until medical staff confirm his complete finger recovery before they allow him to return to play. 

The franchise already faces significant pressure before the must-win fixture against PBKS, and risking another injury setback for Salt could create problems ahead of the playoffs. The latest update shows that the England batter remains in contention to make his return to play.

The date of Salt's return against the Punjab Kings or his upcoming match remains unknown. RCB fans have acquired a valid reason to feel positive about Phil Salt's IPL 2026 return.

Gujarat required an immediate victory through their opening play structure. The batting speed required for Sudharsan to achieve his target of 206.66 strike rate needed to reach 206.66 yet he maintained a 191.66 batting pace which exceeded his established seasonal and lifetime batting rates. He attacked Kartik Tyagi without hesitation because the bowler delivered fast pitches yet failed to maintain proper pitch control.

Sai Sudharsan retired hurt. pic.twitter.com/ZUUi6t9eMs

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 16, 2026

Tyagi needed to change his bowling technique after giving up 14 runs on his first three pitches. He aimed to deliver the ball outside the off stump but then tried to hit Sudharsan's body, yet both deliveries missed their target. Tyagi delivered another short-of-length ball on leg stump during the last delivery of the third over. Sudharsan attempted to execute a pull shot while crouching but the extra pace knocked him down because the ball hit his left elbow.

Sudharsan dropped his bat immediately because he experienced severe pain. The ball rolled towards the leg side as he completed a single. He took off one glove while running and collapsed on the ground after reaching the other end. The physio ran onto the field because Sudharsan needed to be evaluated before he could continue playing.

The injury appeared quite serious, with Sudharsan struggling even to speak while the medical staff checked his elbow. The setback could affect Gujarat's campaign because the team still needs to win matches for IPL 2026 playoff victory. The tournament itself has created a concern that extends beyond its boundaries.

Also Read | Knights unite! Watch Shubman Gills shares warmth with KKR legend Sunil Narine at Kolkata

Sudharsan batted at number three during India's last red-ball match which took place against South Africa national cricket team in Guwahati. Although his record of 302 runs with a 27.45 average across six matches does not demonstrate exceptional performance, he achieved his highest score of 87 during the home series against the West Indies.

Recent reports indicate that selectors are evaluating Devdutt Padikkal as a potential candidate for the number three batting position. Sudharsan remained a strong candidate for selection to the India vs Afghanistan Test match. The recent injury scare has created doubt about his chances for selection in the upcoming selection process.