Before the start of the game, Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals players paid tribute to commentator Richie Benaud, who died aged 84 earlier in the day, by observing a minute of silence.
After opting to bowl first, KXIP got off to a good start with pacers Anureet Singh (in pic) removing Ajinkya Rahane and Sandeep Sharma scalping Sanju Samson early.
RR soon found themselves tottering at 35 for 3, when left-arm spinner Aksar Patel cleaned by Karnataka's Karun Nair for eight runs.
RR's stand-in skipper Steven Smith then rejuvenated his team's innings with an enterprising knock of 33 off 23 balls.
However, KXIP came back strongly courtesy Mitchell Johnson's double-wicket over. Johnson first removed Steve Smith with a short ball, and then got the rid of Stuart Binny, as RR lost five wickets for just 76 runs by the 11th over.
Deepak Hooda scored a quick-fire 30 off 15 balls with the help of three six to hand RR some kind of momentum.
Unfortunately, Hooda was cleaned up by Anureet, as he missed a straight yorker.
But James Faulkner's 32-ball 46-run blitz ensured RR reached a competitive total of 162 for 7 in their 20 overs.
In chase of 162, KXIP lost their opener Virender Sehwag off the first ball as he nicked an away going delivery from Tim Southee to wicketkeeper Sanju Samson.
KXIP then went on to lose the big wicket of Glenn Maxwell inside the first six overs for seven with Southee taking a sharp catch at mid-off.
RR were lifted by some stupendous fielding with wicketkeeper Samson effecting two run-outs, one of which removed KXIP's highest scorer Murali Vijay for 37.
Skipper George Bailey fought till the end scoring 24 off 18 balls, but could not see his team through as KXIP lost the tie by 26 runs.
The best moment of the game however came in the 19th over of the KXIP innings when Southee and Karun Nair pulled off a marvellous rally catch in the deep to remove Bailey. The effort should surely count among the best catches in IPL history.