KKR ‘buck the IPL 2026 trend’: Ajinkya Rahane's men find a strange way to push for play-offs

The point was not about one match. It was about how KKR have won this season.

Against DC, they did not win the powerplay. Delhi were 55/1 after the first six overs. KKR were 43/2 in reply. DC had the better first six overs, but KKR won with 34 balls left.

So the split is clear: KKR have lost the powerplay in three of their four wins and tied it once. They have not won the powerplay in any of those victories.

In IPL 2026, the powerplay has been a strong indicator of match control. Teams that win the first six overs usually carry that advantage deep into the game. KKR are winning through a different route.

The explanation lies in what happens after the powerplay. Against RR, Rajasthan went from 63/0 to 155/9. KKR took 9 wickets for 92 runs after the first six overs.

Against SRH, Hyderabad were 71/1 after the powerplay and were bowled out for 165. KKR took 9 wickets for 94 runs after the first six. Against DC, the squeeze was even sharper. Delhi were 55/1 after six overs and finished at 142/8. They scored only 87 runs and lost seven wickets in the final 14 overs.

That is the pattern for the three-time IPL champions in this edition. KKR are losing the powerplay and then pulling the match back through the middle overs and the back end.

His unbeaten hundred turned a modest chase into a heavy win. KKR did not just recover from losing the powerplay; they managed to get a huge net run rate boost.

KKR’s model needs batting violence to travel further, and that seems to be arriving just at the right time. Bowling can keep them alive, but a batter in Allen’s form can change the ceiling of the side.

Bishop’s Gujarat Titans comparison works in one clear sense. KKR are winning through bowling control, chaseable totals, and fast recoveries after ordinary starts. But the comparison has limits.

GT’s wins have been built on a repeatable structure. KKR’s current run is still more fragile. Losing powerplays repeatedly is not a sustainable comfort zone. Against stronger batting units. A 55/1 start can become 75/0/ Against stronger bowling attacks, 45/2 can become 50/4.

So, while Bishop’s tweet captures the story well, it also exposes the risk.

KKR have found a route that goes against the usual IPL pattern. Their bowling has been good enough to erase early deficits. Their latest win showed what happens when that control is followed by a match-breaking innings. For now, Bishop’s theory holds and looks like an interesting pattern. KKR have four wins without winning a powerplay. That is rare, risky and central to their late-season push.

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