Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) finally broke their losing streak, and the victory was a deeply emotional moment for the entire squad. Spinner Varun Chakaravarthy revealed that there were many tears shed in the dressing room following their first win of the IPL 2026 season against Rajasthan Royals (RR).
I saw many tears in the dressing room: Varun Chakaravarthy on KKR's win
This much-needed win brought a massive sense of relief to the three-time champions, who had been enduring a grueling campaign. Prior to this match, the team had gone six games without a win, marking the worst winless streak in their history, and they were languishing at the bottom of the points table. With their only previous point coming from a rain-abandoned encounter against Punjab Kings, this hard-fought win was vital for the team's morale.
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Entering the game with the same lineup that had fallen to the Gujarat Titans, KKR faced an uphill battle after losing the toss. However, the team’s spinners delivered a masterclass, effectively suffocating the Rajasthan Royals' batting lineup to restrict them to a manageable total of 155. KKR’s batters rose to the challenge in response, successfully chasing down the target in the final over, bolstered by a record-breaking seventh-wicket partnership that finally secured their first points of the season.
“Very, very significant. I can tell you I saw many tears in the dressing room today, which we didn’t even see in the year we won the IPL in 2024. The main credit goes to the coaching staff because they didn’t let the outside noise affect us. There were too many people making judgments that were totally baseless. At such times, you need a strong core, and we have that," Chakaravarthy said after the match.
Varun Chakaravarthy returns to form in style
Chakaravarthy had every reason to be overcome with emotion following the match, as he was rightfully named Player of the Match. His stellar performance was pivotal to the victory, as he dismantled the opposition's batting lineup with a brilliant spell that yielded three wickets for just 14 runs.
While Chakaravarthy has been quick to credit head coach Abhishek Nayar for his guidance, the team’s struggles throughout the season were multifaceted. The bowling unit had been severely hampered by a string of injuries to key players, including Harshit Rana, Akash Deep, and Matheesha Pathirana—the latter of whom only arrived on the eve of the Rajasthan Royals match—along with the unavailability of Mustafizur Rahman. Despite these personnel setbacks, the team had also faced criticism regarding their tactical approach, with earlier losses being attributed to questionable decision-making under Nayar, whose coaching record has been a subject of scrutiny.
“We started this tournament with many injuries and it actually crippled us even before it began. So I would like to give credit to the coaches, especially Abhishek Nayar. If you’re taking up a team in such conditions, you need a lot of courage. He has taken up the team in a very tough situation. Slowly, step by step, one win here, one win there, we will be back on track," he concluded.
KKR will next face LSG on April 16 at the Ekana Cricket Ground in Lucknow.