In a thrilling encounter at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on April 26, 2023, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) emerged victorious against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by 21 runs, claiming a significant win in Match 36 of the IPL 2023 season.

Batting first, KKR put up an impressive total of 200 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in their 20 overs. The standout performance of the innings came from Jason Roy, who scored a commanding 56 runs off just 50 balls, showcasing his aggressive batting style with 4 fours and 5 sixes, resulting in a strike rate of 193.10. He was well-supported by Nitish Rana, who contributed a quickfire 48 runs off 28 balls, peppered with 3 fours and 4 sixes, bringing his strike rate to an impressive 228.57. Other notable contributions included Venkatesh Iyer's 31 runs and Rinku Singh's valuable 18 runs, helping to push the team’s total beyond the 200-run mark.

In response, RCB could only manage to score 179 runs, falling short of KKR’s total. Virat Kohli was the solitary bright spot for RCB, as the talented batsman amassed 54 runs off 59 balls with 6 fours to his name. However, Kohli’s efforts weren’t enough to turn the tide in favor of RCB, as other batsmen struggled against the KKR bowling attack. Faf du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell were dismissed cheaply, scoring 17 and 5 runs respectively, and the team lost wickets at crucial junctures, stalling their momentum.

The bowling attack for KKR played a key role in securing the win, with Sunil Narine and Andre Russell providing critical breakthroughs. Narine finished his spell with figures of 0 for 41 in 4 overs, while Russell took 2 wickets for 29 runs in 4 overs. Varun Chakravarthy was the standout bowler for KKR, claiming 3 wickets for just 27 runs in his 4 overs, showcasing his exceptional wicket-taking ability while maintaining a tight economy rate.

Ultimately, KKR's ability to set a challenging total combined with a disciplined bowling performance ensured their 21-run victory over RCB, marking a significant achievement in their campaign for the IPL 2023 title. The defeat leaves RCB looking to bounce back in their subsequent matches as they continue to chase a spot in the playoffs of this competitive season.