KKR 163-3 (18.4 ovs) vs Rajasthan 160-8 | Scorecard

Captain Dinesh Karthik hit a quickfire 42 not out from 23 balls as they outclassed Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets, in Jaipur on Wednesday.

KKR lost Chris Lynn for a duck in the first over before Robin Uthappa rallied the visitors as he stroked 48 from 36 balls, adding 70 runs for the second wicket with Narine, who made 35 from 25 balls.

Karthik and Nitish Rana (35) carried KKR home with seven balls to spare as they put on an unbroken stand of 61 from 38 balls for the fourth wicket.

Earlier, a disciplined bowling performance by the KKR bowlers helped them restrict Rajasthan Royals to 160 for eight in their 20 overs.

Ajinkya Rahane had given Royals a flying start as he stroked a quickfire 36 from 19 balls, putting on 54 runs for the opening wicket with D'Arcy Short.

Short got back among the runs as he stroked 44 from 43 balls, as he made up for his slow start.

Jos Buttler provided the boost at the end with his quickfire 24 not out from 18 balls.

The KKR spin duo of Piyush Chawla and Kuldeep Yadav bowled well, taking one for 18 and one for 23 respectively but Sunil Narine struggled and was hit for 48 runs in his four overs.

KKR 163-3 (18.4 ovs) vs Rajasthan 160-8 | Scorecard

The struggling Unadkat comes back as Karthik and Uthappa pick singles off the first two balls before the former pulls a short ball for a six.

Two balls later Rana lofts Unadkat back over mid-off and manages to clear the fence for the second six of the over.

16 runs from the over pretty much settles the deal as KKR reach 142 for three in 17 overs, needing 19 from three balls for victory.

This is turning out to be too easy for KKR. Karthik clips Stokes on the leg side for two runs before he drives a full toss through point for a four followed by two singles, leaving the visitors to get 10 from the last two overs for victory.

Captain Karthik finishes off the match in the next over as he smashes Laughlin for a six over long-on.

KKR win by seven wickets, with seven balls to spare.

KKR 126-3 (16 ovs) vs Rajasthan 160-8 | Scorecard

Karthik keen to collect his runs in ones and twos and take KKR closer to victory without any dramas.

Rana and Karthik pick Gopal for six runs off his third over before Unadkat gives away five runs in the next.

Laughlin continues to keep things tight, giving away just five runs from the following over.

Just 16 runs have come from the last three overs as KKR reach 126 for three in 16 overs, needing another 35 runs from four overs for victory.

KKR 110-3 (13 ovs) vs Rajasthan 160-8 | Scorecard

Gowtham, who bowled two good overs at the start, sends down another tight over as he concedes just three singles.

Uthappa looks to heave the last ball and is beaten as wicketkeeper Buttler appeals for stumping but the batsman's backfoot is back in the crease.

Laughlin comes into the attack as Rana drives the first ball through the covers for a four but only three singles come from the rest of the over.

Gowtham fires one down the leg side as Rana glances it fine for a four and then takes one.

Uthappa then looks to loft it down the ground but can't beat Stokes at long-on who comes up with a stunning catch. He did well to take the catch from a flat hit from Uthappa but he had to back pedal due to the momentum and he did well to lob the ball back when his feet touched the boundary skirting before coming back in to complete the catch.

Uthappa is dismissed after a cracking knock of 48 from 36 balls as KKR lose their third wicket.

Captain Dinesh Karthik starts off positively as he steers Gowtham behind point for two runs and then punches the next through the off-side for another couple.

The last ball is dabbed fine for a four by Karthik as Gowtham goes for 13 in his final over to finish with two from 23 from four overs.

KKR are 110 for three in 13 overs, needing 51 from seven balls for victory.

KKR 87-2 (10 ovs) vs Rajasthan 160-8 | Scorecard

Leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal comes into the attack. He begins with two dot balls to Uthappa who then pulls a short ball over mid-on for a six followed by a single.

Narine slaps the last ball through the covers but Stokes at long-off does well to cut it and keep it down to two.

Pacer Ben Stokes comes into the attack. Uthappa is beaten by the first ball before he takes one and then picks a single on the leg side.

Narine then gets the edge which goes fine on the off-side for a four before he gets one to pick up six runs from the over.

In the next over, KKR lose the wicket of Narine, who is run out after a handy innings of 35 from 25 balls. He attempted the reverse sweep against Gopal but missed and the ball went off the pads to short thirdman but Narine was halfway down the track looking for a single before he was sent back. But a quick throw from Unadkat to wicketkeeper Buttler saw Narine getting run out as KKR lose their second wicket.

Nitish Rana gets off the mark with a single before Uthappa heaves the last ball for a six over midwicket.

Uthappa is on the charge as he gets a thick outside edge off Stokes but Unadkat at thirdman lets it go through his legs to gift KKR a boundary.

10 runs from the 10th over takes KKR to 87 for two at the halfway stage, with 74 needed from 60 balls for victory.

Uthappa has blasted his way to 46 from 29 balls, while Rana is on four.

KKR 53-1 (6 ovs) vs Rajasthan 160-8 | Scorecard

Jaydev Unadkat comes into the attack in place of Gowtham, who bowled two good overs at the start.

Uthappa pulls the second ball over midwicket for a four and hammers the fourth ball back over the bowler's head for the same result.

Uthappa then guides the fifth ball fine on the off-side for the third four of the over before he punches the last ball straight but Ben Laughlin's diving stop saves a certain boundary.

13 runs from the over as KKR continue to lift the tempo to reach 40 for one in five overs.

Laughlin comes into the attack and starts with a poor delivery down the leg side which Uthappa glances fine, for a four. Three singles before Narine swings the last ball over midwicket for a six for another expensive over for Rajasthan.

KKR have raced to 53 for one in six overs with Uthappa on 25 from 16 balls and Narine on 28 from 18 balls with the duo adding 52 runs so far from 33 balls for the second wicket.

KKR 27-1 (4 ovs) vs Rajasthan 160-8 | Scorecard

Pace from the other end as Dhawal Kulkarni gets the ball. Narine miscues the second ball over the fielder on the off-side for two runs before he is beaten trying to slash a wide one.

Dhawal tries another short ball as Narine slashes hard and gets it over the wicketkeeper for a four followed by two singles.

In the next over, Uthappa punches a short ball from Gowtham through the covers for a four but the off-spinner does well to give away just two singles from the rest of the over.

Rajasthan springing a lot of fielding changes every delivery as Dhawal bowls the fourth over.

They are trying to stop Narine's fireworks with fielders running around after every delivery.

But Narine is getting into the gear as he smashes Dhawal for three boundaries in a row.

Dhawal has gone for 20 in his two overs as KKR recover to 27 for one in four overs.

KKR 1-1 (1 ov) vs Rajasthan 160-8 | Scorecard

Rajasthan also begin with spin as Krishnappa Gowtham bowls the first over.

Narine gets an inside edge off the first ball for a single to get off the mark.

And two balls later Gowtham strikes with the key wicket of Chris Lynn, as he tries to play the cut shot to be bowled for a duck.

He follows it up with three dot balls in a row to new batsman Robin Uthappa, giving away just a single from the first over.

Rajasthan 160-8 (20 ovs) vs KKR | Scorecard

A disciplined bowling performance by the KKR bowlers helped them restrict Rajasthan Royals to 160 for eight in their 20 overs.

Ajinkya Rahane had given Royals a flying start as he stroked a quickfire 36 from 19 balls, putting on 54 runs for the opening wicket with D'Arcy Short.

Short got back among the runs as he stroked 44 from 43 balls, as he made up for his slow start.

Jos Buttler provided the boost at the end with his quickfire 24 not out from 18 balls.

The KKR spin duo of Piyush Chawla and Kuldeep Yadav bowled well, taking one for 18 and one for 23 respectively but Sunil Narine struggled and was hit for 48 runs in his four overs.

Part-time spinner Nitish Rana bagged a couple of wickets and so did pacer Tom Curran with a twin strike late in the innings.

Rajasthan 160-8 (20 ovs) vs KKR | Scorecard

Narine comes back as Gowtham comes down and lofts it down the ground as Mavi runs to his left at long-off but fails to take the catch close to the boundary and ends up giving away a six.

Gowtham glances the fifth ball fine for three runs before Buttler punches the last ball through the covers for a four.

Narine goes for 14 in his final over as he finishes with expensive figures of 48 runs in four overs, his most expensive figures in the IPL. He struggled ever since Rahane went after him in his first over, hitting him for four fours in an over.

Curran to bowl the 19th over. He starts with a slower ball as Gowtham has a swing but gets a thick outside edge to be caught at short thirdman for 12.

Curran picks up another wicket off the next ball as he bowls new batsman Shreyas Gopal for a duck.

Dhawal Kulkarni avoids the hat-trick as he steers the third ball to thirdman for one before Curran bowls a no-ball.

But Kulkarni gently drives the free hit delivery, a full toss, on the off-side for just a single.

Buttler drills the fifth ball through the off-side for two runs before he lofts the last ball straight down the ground for a four.

The young Mavi to bowl the final over. He starts with a slower ball as Dhawal chips it straight to Lynn at point who puts down a simple catch and also gives away a single to bring Buttler back on strike.

Buttler pulls the next ball but can't get hold of it for two runs to deep midwicket.

Mavi goes round the wicket as captain Karthik instructs him for behind the wickets to bowl wide but he ends up bowling three wides trying the slower ball.

A short ball in between beats Buttler before he reaches out to a wide delivery for two runs.

Buttler lofts the fifth ball down the ground which goes straight to long-off as he calls Dhawal for the second run to keep strike.

Dhawal is run out for three despite a fumble from Mavi as Rajasthan lose their 8th wicket.

Mavi finishes with a dot ball as it just passes over the wide line with Rajasthan finishing on 160 for eight in their 20 overs.

Rajasthan 127-5 (17 ovs) vs KKR | Scorecard

KKR's bowlers building up some pressure with a few tight overs, drying up the boundaries.

Stokes breaks the shackles as he swings Kuldeep over midwicket for a six.

Kuldeep gives away 10 in his final over but still finishes with one for 23 in four overs.

Rajasthan will need a strong finish to ensure they reach somewhere around the 175-run mark.

But their hopes are dashed as Chawla strikes with the big wicket of Stokes, who comes down the track and is deceived by the googly. He still goes through with his shot but holes out a high catch on the off-side which is taken by Rana as the Englishman walks back for 14.

Just five runs from the over and the important wicket of Stokes as Chawla finishes with impressive figures of one for 18 in four overs.

Rajasthan 112-4 (15 ovs) vs KKR | Scorecard

Kuldeep comes back as he gives away three singles from the first three balls before Tripathi pulls it in the gap through midwicket for a four.

He tries to play the inside out lofted shot off the last ball but fails to get enough elevation as Russell takes a good catch leaping high at short cover to send back the right-hander for 15.

Narine is back into the attack. After two expensive overs, Narine manages to bowl a tidy over, starting with two dot balls to Stokes, who then takes one before Jos Buttler clips the fourth ball to deep midwicket for two runs.

A single to Buttler off the next before Stokes flicks the last ball wide of long-on for two runs.

Rajasthan 99-3 (13 ovs) vs KKR | Scorecard

A lot of bowling options on hand for KKR captain Karthik as he brings on pacer Tom Curran, to bowl the 10th over.

Short not getting the boundaries and also struggling to rotate the strike, having made 19 from 29 balls, with the help of two fours.

Tripathi picks up a single before Short turns the fifth ball on the leg side for two runs and then clips the last ball past short fine leg for a four to release some pressure as Royals reach 71 for two in 10 overs.

Narine is not have a good day with the ball so far. You don't bowl short to Short, who calmly pulls it over square leg for a four.

Another short ball from Narine and this time Tripathi pulls it for a four to get 10 from the over.

Narine has suffered so far, conceding 28 from his first two overs.

Stand and deliver from Short as he heaves Mavi over square leg for a six and then steers the next ball past point for a four.

He punches the last ball through the covers for two runs to get 14 from the over and take Rajasthan to 95 for two in 12 overs.

Part-timer Rana comes back into the attack. And the move of bowling spin to Short work as the left-hander has a swing but misses and is bowled after a good innings of 44 from 43 balls.

Ben Stokes gets off the mark with a single to long-on as Royals reach 99 for three in 13 overs.

Rajasthan 62-2 (9 ovs) vs KKR | Scorecard

Kuldeep comes back as he bowls another tight over, giving away three runs for a total of six runs from his two overs as Short continues to struggle against the spinners.

The in-form Samson looking in good touch as he steers a wide ball from Mavi square on the off-side for a four.

However, the young pacer gets revenge off the very next delivery, as Samson pulls a short ball straight into the hands of Kuldeep at deep square leg.

Samson walks back for seven as Rajasthan are reduced to 62 for two in nine overs.

Mavi went for runs in his first over but he has made a good comeback, giving away just four and picking up the key wicket of Samson.

Interestingly, Rajasthan have promoted Rahul Tripathi ahead of Ben Stokes.

Rajasthan 55-1 (7 ovs) vs KKR | Scorecard

Part-time spinner Nitish Rana comes into the attack. Rahane picks a single from the first ball before Short glances the next ball fine for a four.

Short survives an appeal for caught behind but the ball bounced Karthik took it and he then takes out.

But against the run of play, Rajasthan lose the key wicket of Rahane, who is run out after a quickfire 36 from 19 balls.

Supert glovework from Karthik as Rahane stepped out of the crease trying to play the flick but got hit on the pads and the momentum carried him a long way out. Karthik was quick to get to the ball on the leg side and flick it back on to the stumps to catch his opposite number short of the crease.

Rajasthan 48-0 (6 ovs) vs KKR | Scorecard

Sunil Narine comes into the attack. Rahane gets his front foot across and sweeps the spinner over short fine leg for a four. He comes down the track and hammers the second ball straight down the ground past mid-off for another boundary.

Rahane makes it a hat-trick of fours as he cuts a short ball from Narine through the covers.

A horror start for Narine as Rahane repeats the shot to make it four boundaries in a row.

Two singles from the last two balls make it 18 from Narine's first over.

Young fast bowler Shivam Mavi comes into the attack. Short continues to struggle as he plays another dot ball before pulling the next to deep square leg for one.

Rahane then comes down the track and hammers Mavi back over his head for a straight six and he manages to fend the next ball on the off-side as it rises more than expected.

Short gets going as he lofts Mavi over mid-off for a four from the 13th ball he faces followed by a single off the last ball.

31 runs from the last two overs as Rajasthan rally to 40 for no loss in five overs.

Change of ends for leg-spinner Chawla. Short clips the first ball on the leg side for a single before Rahane plays a beautiful drive past the cover fielder for a four.

Rahane then punches the third ball to long-on for one followed by two singles from the last two balls.

After scoring just nine runs from the first three runs, Rajasthan have reached 48 for no loss in six overs, with Rahane on 35 from 17 balls and Short on 12 from 19 balls.

Rajasthan 9-0 (3 ovs) vs KKR | Scorecard

Captain Ajinkya Rahane opens the batting with D'Arcy Short, who is desperately in need of runs after failing in the first three games.

Leg-spinner Piyush Chawla will open the bowling for KKR.

Rahane gets a full toss first up which he drives to long-on for a single to get off the mark.

Short defends the next ball before he is beaten by one which goes straight through and the Australian gets off the mark with a single down the ground.

Rahane makes room and tries to play the cut shot but is beaten before he hits the last ball on the leg side for one as just three come from the first over.

Spin from both ends as Kuldeep Yadav comes into the attack from the other end.

Rahane sweeps the first ball to deep midwicket for a single before Short is nearly done in by one which doesn't spin but the inside edge saves him as he picks a single.

Rahane drives the next ball straight but can't beat the fielder at mid-off for a single and Short picks a leg bye from the last ball.

The pressure building on Rajasthan after two quiet overs as Rahane looks to break the shackles attempting to reverse Chawla but can't connect.

He then comes down the track and tries to loft it down the ground but can't make proper connection for a single on the leg side.

Short is struggling to get going as he is unable to read the spinners, managing just three runs from 11 balls.

Rajasthan have struggled to reach nine for no loss in three overs.

Check out the playing XIs of the two teams:

Rajasthan Royals: Ajinkya Rahane (captain), D Arcy Short, Sanju Samson (w/k), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Rahul Tripathi, Krishnappa Gowtham, Shreyas Gopal, Dhawal Kulkarni, Jaydev Unadkat, Ben Laughlin.

Kolkata Knight Riders: Dinesh Karthik (captain, w/k), Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine, Robin Uthappa, Nitish Rana, Andre Russell, Shubman Gill, Tom Curran, Piyush Chawla, Shivam Mavi, Kuldeep Yadav

KKR captain Dinesh Karthik has won the toss and elected to bowl against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur.

Interestingly, both teams have retained the playing combinations from their previous games.

Welcome to the coverage of the 15th match of the Indian Premier League between Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders in Jaipur on Wednesday.

The in-form Rajasthan Royals will be confident of a third consecutive victory when they take on a solid Kolkata Knight Riders.

Royals have turned it around with back-to-back wins after Sunrisers thrashed them in their opener.

They are on their home turf where they have seldom lost matches but they would still be wary of KKR who outplayed Delhi Daredevils rather comfortably in the previous encounter for their second win in four games.

With Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine at the top and big hitters like Dinesh Karthik, Robin Uthappa, Nitish Rana and Andre Russell in the middle, KKR have enough fire power and depth.

Their bowling too has the right balance with the deceptive Narine, the current purple cap holder in the tournament. Wily old horse Piyush Chawla and Kuldeep Yadav are capable of weaving a web around any batting side.

Rajasthan would once be looking at their young batting star Sanju Samon to continue his good run with the bat, while the English duo of Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler would be keen to prove their worth.