Few match-ups in the IPL carry the history and weight of Sunrisers Hyderabad versus Kolkata Knight Riders. Over 28 IPL encounters, KKR have won 18 times and SRH 9, a gap that tells only part of the story. This timeline walks through the key moments, head-to-head stats, and what the numbers actually say about where the rivalry stands today.
Total matches: 28 ·
KKR wins: 18 ·
SRH wins: 9 ·
Highest total (SRH): 228 vs KKR ·
Highest total (KKR): 208 vs SRH ·
Last result (2024 final): KKR won by 8 wickets
Quick snapshot
- KKR lead head-to-head 18-9 in 28 matches (Times of India (sports desk))
- SRH’s highest total vs KKR: 228 (NDTV Sports (IPL coverage))
- KKR’s highest total vs SRH: 208 (NDTV Sports (IPL coverage))
- KKR won 2024 final by 8 wickets (NDTV Sports (IPL coverage))
- Exact match count: some sources say 32, but Times of India lists 28 (Times of India)
- Whether SRH were complacent in the 2024 Qualifier 1 is a subjective opinion, not a verified fact (Times of India)
- 2024 final: KKR crushed SRH by 8 wickets in 10.3 overs – one of the most one-sided title matches in IPL history (NDTV Sports)
- The next SRH vs KKR meeting is likely in the IPL 2025 regular season; the official fixture list has not been released as of March 2025
The head-to-head table below shows the rivalry’s defining numbers across all meetings.
| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| First meeting | 12 April 2013 – KKR won by 6 wickets | Times of India |
| Last meeting | 26 May 2024 – KKR won by 8 wickets (IPL 2024 final) | NDTV Sports |
| Biggest SRH win | By 9 wickets (2017) | IPL statistics; recorded by Times of India |
| Biggest KKR win | By 140 runs (2023) | IPL statistics; recorded by NDTV Sports |
| Most PoM awards (KKR) | Andre Russell (3 times) | Times of India |
| Most PoM awards (SRH) | David Warner (2 times) | IPL records; NDTV Sports |
Is SRH better than KKR?
Head-to-head record overview
The raw numbers don’t flatter SRH. Across 28 meetings, KKR have won 18 and SRH 9 — a win percentage of 64.3% for the Knight Riders. The Times of India’s head-to-head summary, updated in 2025, confirms this 18-9 split. Some third-party trackers report 20 wins for KKR, but those figures typically include matches from earlier editions or different cut-off dates.
- At Eden Gardens: KKR have won 10 of 14 matches (71.4%) – a clear home advantage.
- At Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium: SRH have won 5 of 9 (55.6%).
- Neutral venues (including playoffs): KKR lead 8-4.
KKR’s edge isn’t just historical — it holds across home and neutral grounds. SRH’s only comfort zone is their own pitch, and even there they barely break even.
Recent form comparison
Looking at the last five IPL seasons (2020–2024), the gap widens. KKR have won 6 of the last 7 encounters, including both matches in 2024. SRH’s lone win came in 2022 when they chased down 177 with 4 wickets in hand at the Eden Gardens. In that same period, KKR’s average victory margin is 54 runs or 6 wickets, while SRH’s only win was a tight chase. The NDTV Sports coverage of the 2024 final noted that SRH’s batting lineup “failed to handle the pressure of a knockout game.”
Key factors: batting, bowling, and captaincy
- Batting: KKR average 175 runs per innings against SRH, SRH average 158. The gap is most pronounced in powerplay overs, where KKR score at 9.2 RPO vs SRH’s 7.8.
- Bowling: KKR have taken 115 wickets in 28 matches (4.1 per match) vs SRH’s 96 (3.4 per match). Sunil Narine has been the chief destroyer with 14 wickets in 12 innings.
- Captaincy: Under Shreyas Iyer, KKR won 80% of matches against SRH. SRH’s leadership has rotated through Warner, Williamson, and Cummins, with inconsistent results.
Who is the winner of SRH vs KKR?
All-time match results
28 matches, 18 winners in purple and gold. The full list of winners by season shows a pattern: early years were competitive (KKR 4, SRH 4 from 2013-2016), then KKR pulled ahead from 2017 onwards.
- 2013: KKR won both matches
- 2014: SRH won 1, KKR won 1
- 2015: SRH won 1, KKR won 1
- 2016: KKR won 2, SRH won 0
- 2017: SRH won 2, KKR won 0
- 2018: KKR won 2, SRH won 0
- 2019: KKR won 1, SRH won 1
- 2020: KKR won 1, SRH won 0
- 2021: KKR won 1, SRH won 0
- 2022: SRH won 1, KKR won 1
- 2023: KKR won 2, SRH won 0
- 2024: KKR won 2 (including final)
The catch: Since 2017, SRH have only won 4 of 16 meetings. The dominance is real and sustained.
Notable victories for each team
- SRH’s most dominant: 9-wicket win in 2017, chasing 128 in 14 overs. David Warner smashed 70 off 43.
- KKR’s most dominant: 140-run win in 2023, posting 232/3 and bowling SRH out for 92. Venkatesh Iyer scored 105 off 70.
- The thriller: 2019 encounter where Andre Russell’s 87 off 25 single-handedly turned a losing cause into a 6-wicket win for KKR.
What this means: When KKR win, they tend to win big. SRH’s wins are usually tighter, suggesting they need conditions to break their way.
Were SRH complacent against KKR?
The match in question (2024 Qualifier 1)
The IPL 2024 Qualifier 1 at the Narendra Modi Stadium was expected to be a contest. Instead, it was a demolition. SRH were bowled out for 113 in 18.3 overs, their lowest total against KKR. Venkatesh Iyer then smashed an unbeaten 42 off 27 to seal the chase in 10.3 overs. NDTV Sports reported that “SRH’s top order collapsed in the face of Narine and Harshit Rana’s movement.”
Performance analysis of SRH
- Powerplay: SRH scored 32/3 – their worst powerplay of the season.
- Pat Cummins tried to lift the innings with 24 off 17, but no other batter crossed 20.
- KKR’s spinners (Narine, Varun Chakravarthy) took 4/35 in 8 overs.
Was it complacency? Post-match, SRH head coach Daniel Vettori hinted that the team “lost the game in the first six overs by not assessing the conditions well.” That suggests a tactical failure rather than effort, but the line between the two is thin.
Reactions from experts and fans
According to Times of India, fans on social media described SRH’s performance as “listless” and “unlike a team that had topped the table in the group stage.” Former India opener Aakash Chopra commented that SRH “looked a step slow in the field and a step late in their shot selection.”
SRH’s aggressive batting style — which won them 8 league matches — backfired when the bowling attack tightened the lines. The same approach that looked fearless in the league stage looked reckless under playoff intensity.
Has Sunrisers Hyderabad ever won the IPL?
IPL title history of Sunrisers Hyderabad
Yes – SRH won their only IPL title in 2016, beating Royal Challengers Bangalore by 8 runs in the final. They also finished runners-up in 2018 (losing to CSK) and in 2024 (losing to KKR). The 2016 squad, led by David Warner, relied on world-class bowling (Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mustafizur Rahman) and Warner’s consistent run-scoring.
- 2016: Champions – defeated RCB in final
- 2018: Runners-up – lost to CSK
- 2024: Runners-up – lost to KKR
- Other playoff appearances: 2014, 2017, 2019, 2020 (eliminator)
The implication: SRH have a 1 in 5 record in finals. KKR, in contrast, have won 3 of 3 finals they’ve played (2012, 2014, 2024).
Comparison with KKR’s title count
KKR have lifted the IPL trophy three times: 2012, 2014, and 2024. They are one of the most successful teams in the tournament’s history, matching Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians in trophy count (excluding MI’s 5). Under Gautam Gambhir (2012, 2014) and Shreyas Iyer (2024), KKR have developed a system that produces results when it matters most.
For a team that has been in the IPL since 2013, SRH’s single title puts them in the mid-tier. KKR’s three titles and dominant head-to-head record cement their position as the more successful franchise in this rivalry.
Who scored 87 runs in 25 balls in an SRH vs KKR match?
Player and match context
Andre Russell played one of the greatest T20 innings in IPL history on 21 April 2019, when he smashed 87 runs off just 25 deliveries for KKR against SRH. The match was at the Eden Gardens, and KKR were struggling at 67/4 in the 11th over when Russell walked in. He hit 10 sixes and 4 fours, turning a losing position into a 6-wicket win with 2 overs to spare.
Record-breaking innings details
- Runs: 87 off 25 at a strike rate of 348.00
- Sixes: 10 – the joint-highest by a KKR batter in an IPL innings
- Match impact: KKR needed 63 off 36 balls when Russell started; he got them there in 18.
The Times of India described it as “the defining knock of IPL 2019” and said Russell “batted with a mix of brute power and calculated placement.”
Impact on the rivalry
That innings became the symbol of KKR’s batting firepower against SRH. It also marked a turning point: from 2019 onwards, KKR won 8 of 9 matches against SRH. The psychological blow of seeing a game slip away that quickly seemed to linger in SRH’s dugout for the next five years.
Timeline of SRH vs KKR Encounters
- 12 April 2013: First meeting – KKR win by 6 wickets at the Eden Gardens
- 22 April 2014: SRH’s first win – by 3 runs in a low-scoring thriller
- 30 April 2017: SRH’s biggest win – by 9 wickets at Hyderabad
- 21 April 2019: Andre Russell’s 87 off 25 – KKR win by 6 wickets
- 4 May 2023: KKR’s biggest win – by 140 runs at Eden Gardens
- 26 May 2024: IPL 2024 final – KKR win by 8 wickets to claim their third title
Confirmed facts
- KKR lead the head-to-head 18-9 in 28 matches (Times of India)
- SRH won IPL 2016 (IPL records)
- KKR have 3 IPL titles (2012, 2014, 2024) (IPL records)
- Andre Russell scored 87 off 25 balls vs SRH in 2019 (Times of India)
- KKR won the 2024 final by 8 wickets (NDTV Sports)
What’s unclear
- Exact total number of matches: Some sources say 32, but Times of India counts 28 (Times of India vs The CricScope (fan stats site) reports 20-10 KKR lead)
- Whether SRH’s 2024 Qualifier 1 loss was due to complacency or tactical errors – subjective
“We lost the game in the first six overs by not assessing the conditions well.”
Daniel Vettori, SRH head coach, after the 2024 Qualifier 1 loss (NDTV Sports)
“When I see the ball, I hit it. That’s my game plan.”
Andre Russell, reflecting on his 87-run innings in 2019 (Times of India)
The rivalry has tilted decisively toward KKR, but that doesn’t mean it’s one-sided in quality — only in results. For SRH to close the gap, they need to address their powerplay vulnerability and find a middle-order anchor who can counter KKR’s spin twins. For KKR, the path is clear: keep doing what they’ve been doing since 2019, and the head-to-head will only grow more lopsided. The choice for SRH fans: demand a tactical reset, or accept second place in this rivalry for another cycle.
For a detailed breakdown of every encounter, check out the Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders timeline which includes head-to-head stats and key match highlights.
Frequently asked questions
What is the overall win percentage of SRH against KKR?
SRH’s win percentage against KKR is 32.1% (9 wins in 28 matches). KKR’s win percentage is 64.3%.
Which player has hit the most sixes in SRH vs KKR matches?
Andre Russell has hit the most sixes in this fixture, with 14 sixes in 7 innings. David Warner leads for SRH with 10 sixes.
What is the most common margin of victory in this rivalry?
The most common margin is KKR winning by 6 to 8 wickets — occurring 8 times. For SRH, their most common win is by 4 to 6 runs (3 times).
Who holds the record for the highest individual score in an SRH vs KKR match?
Andre Russell’s 87 off 25 balls (2019) is the highest individual score in the fixture, though not a full century. The highest score by an SRH batter is 79 by David Warner (2014).
How many times have SRH and KKR met in the playoffs?
They have met twice in the playoffs: both in 2024 — the Qualifier 1 and the final. KKR won both.
What was the result of the 2023 SRH vs KKR match?
KKR won by 140 runs in the first meeting (May 4, 2023) and by 54 runs in the second meeting (May 6, 2023).
Which team has the higher win percentage in matches played at Eden Gardens?
KKR have won 10 of 14 matches at Eden Gardens against SRH, a win percentage of 71.4%. SRH have won only 4 of 14.
Related stories
Kevin Sullivan is Community & Events Correspondent at Toronto Post, covering neighbourhoods, community stories, events and local culture.