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The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have kept their IPL 2026 playoff hopes alive with a stunning 29-run win over the Gujarat Titans (GT) at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday (May 16). After five straight defeats in the tournament, Kolkata Knight Riders were almost out of the playoffs race, but they made a strong comeback with five wins from the last 6 matches.
KKR’s one match was washed out against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Kolkata earlier this season. They have now returned to the IPL 2026 playoff race. They have moved to seventh place on the table with 11 points after 12 matches so far this season.
Kolkata Knight Riders back in IPL 2026 playoff race with thrilling win over Gujarat Titans
But their net run rate is still negative. On Saturday, the three-time IPL champions successfully defended 247 runs, with Gujarat Titans managing 218 runs in their 20 overs at the Eden Gardens.
This 29-run victory over Gujarat Titans at Eden Gardens was a massive boost for Ajinkya Rahane-led Kolkata Knight Riders, especially after their poor start to the season.
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The Kolkata Knight Riders have now won five of their last six matches and are slowly climbing back into the IPL 2026 playoff fight.
Even though they are still seventh on the points table, they are very much alive in the race. Chennai Super Kings are only one point ahead, so the gap is not very big.
What KKR need to qualify for IPL 2026 Playoffs?
But KKR’s road to the playoffs is still too tough. They now only have two matches left to make it to the top four this season. Their washout match against PBKS has now become a big problem because Kolkata cannot reach 16 points anymore. Even if KKR win both their remaining games, they can only finish with 15 points on the table.
Now, Kolkata Knight Riders must beat both Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals in their last two matches on May 20 and 24, respectively. Along with that, they also need other results to go in their favor. They will be hoping Chennai Super Kings lose at least one of their two remaining matches, while Rajasthan Royals also need to lose two of their remaining three games for Kolkata to move ahead in the race.
There is another big issue for KKR, and that is net run rate because they are still behind some teams in that department. So, the big win against GT has brought hope back to Kolkata, but now they need two more wins and some help from other teams to complete a dramatic turnaround in IPL 2026.
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Ajinkya Rahane wants KKR to keep things simple amid rising IPL 2026 Playoff pressure
On the constant noise around the playoff chances, KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane said the team is only focusing on one match at a time and trying to keep things simple during this pressure phase.
Rahane said at the post-match presentation: “The talk was all about taking one game at a time. We know the scenario where we stand at the moment. So, it's simple. And as I said earlier, cricket is a game. When you keep it really simple, don't make it complicated; it works the most for you.”
