India, May 9 -- If it were mid-April, one wouldn't even entertain the thought of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) having a shot at the qualification race for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 playoffs. The franchise hadn't won a single game in the 19th edition of the T20 tournament, and their only point had come owing to a washout against the Punjab Kings at the Eden Gardens. But what a difference a string of wins can make. The Ajinkya Rahane-led side is finally up and about after winning four matches in a row, and the franchise now has a realistic chance of just making it to the top four.

The three-time champions on Friday night won by eight wickets against the Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, marking their fourth ...