Finn Allen produced one of the finest innings of IPL 2026 as he smashed a sensational unbeaten century to guide Kolkata Knight Riders to a commanding eight-wicket win over Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Chasing a modest target of 143, Allen completely dominated the Delhi bowling attack with a breathtaking 100* off just 47 balls. His explosive knock helped KKR chase down the target with 35 balls remaining and extended the defending champions’ winning streak to four matches.
The innings marked a major comeback for the New Zealand opener, who had struggled during the first half of the season. After a string of low scores, Allen was dropped for three games, with fellow Kiwi Tim Seifert taking his place in the XI.
However, Allen returned with a completely different mindset. Despite KKR losing early wickets, he stayed calm and carefully built his innings before shifting gears in devastating fashion.
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Speaking after receiving the Player of the Match award, Finn Allen revealed how he changed his approach during the break. “I have been working on having more strings in my bow. I had to be more responsible after a couple of early wickets. I tried to knuckle down early because it was challenging at the start,” Allen said.
Finn Allen became just the 4th KKR batter to hit a century 💯#IPL2026 #DCvsKKR pic.twitter.com/48xWpLb5Xu
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) May 9, 2026
“I have got a few starts this season, but it was frustrating not to convert them. Sometimes being left out gives you a fresh perspective and helps mentally. I was probably putting too much pressure on myself earlier,” he added.
Allen also credited assistant coach Shane Watson and head coach Abhishek Nayar for helping him improve his game during the difficult phase.
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The Kiwi batter found solid support from Cameron Green, who remained unbeaten on 33. The pair stitched together an unbroken 116-run partnership that completely took the game away from Delhi Capitals. With Allen rediscovering top form at the perfect time, KKR’s playoff push has received a massive boost in IPL 2026.
