Eden Gardens witnessed a T20 classic this afternoon as the Kolkata Knight Riders edged out the Rajasthan Royals by a solitary run in a nail-biting encounter.

The vociferous home crowd erupted in collective euphoria as Rinku Singh's sharp fielding in the final ball denied the Royals a Super Over, securing a crucial victory for the Knights.

The game reached a fever pitch in the final three overs with RR needing 25 runs.

The pivotal moment arrived in the 18th over when Harshit Rana's slower, wider delivery was dragged by Parag straight into the hands of Vaibhav Arora.

Despite Parag's dismissal, the Royals refused to surrender. With 22 needed off the final over, Shubham Dubey (who finished on a valiant 25 off 14) almost pulled off a miraculous heist.

He hit Vaibhav Arora for a six, a four and a six in consecutive deliveries, bringing the equation down to three runs off the final ball.

The tension was palpable as the entire KKR team huddled to strategize. Arora delivered a perfect yorker, and with only a run-out possible, Rinku Singh showcased his brilliance in the field. Sensing an opportunity at the non-striker's end, he charged in and caught Joffrey Archer short of his crease, triggering wild celebrations in the KKR camp.

Earlier, choosing to bat first after winning the toss on a dry-looking pitch, KKR posted a formidable 206 for four.

Openers Rahmanullah (35 off 25) and Ajinkya Rahane (30 off 24) provided a solid foundation with a 56-run stand.

Young Angkrish Raghuvanshi continued his impressive form with a stylish 44, laced with five boundaries.

However, it was Andre Russell's explosive knock of 57 off just 25 balls, including six towering sixes and four boundaries, that propelled the Knight Riders past the 200 mark.

A late cameo from Rinku Singh further boosted the total.

But the drama was far from over. The Rajasthan Royals mounted a spirited chase, spearheaded by a sensational innings from their captain, Riyan Parag.

He threatened to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, smashing a breathtaking 95 off just 45 deliveries, adorned with eight sixes and six fours.

While the Royals fought valiantly, only Parag, along with brief contributions from Yashasvi Jaiswal (34) and Shimron Hetmyer (29), showed the resilience required to see the chase through. KKR's bowlers, including Moen Ali, Harshit Rana, and Varun Chakravarthy, held their nerve in crucial moments to guide their team to victory.

This hard-fought win propels KKR to a healthier position on the league table with 11 points, while the Royals will rue what could have been after a valiant effort. This encounter will undoubtedly be remembered as another thrilling chapter in IPL history.