Opting to bat, Kings XI batsmen never got going as the home team lost wickets at regular intervals to be restricted to the modest total.
Captain Adam Gilchrist, who retired hurt in the sixth over with a right hamstring problem only to return later to drag his side out of trouble, top-scored with an unbeaten 40, while Shaun Marsh made a 30-ball 33 with the help of four boundaries.
Kings XI batsmen struggled from the onset against a determined KKR bowling line up and it could be gauged from the fact that only three of their batters could manage double figures.
Wily West Indian off-spinner Sunil Narine (2/24) and Brett Lee (2/26) starred with the ball for KKR, sharing four wickets between them. Laxmipathy Balaji (1/20) and Rajat Bhatia (1/23) also picked up a wicket each for the visitors.
Kings XI's last year's hero, Paul Valthaty once again disappointed as he fell early, outside edging a Brett Lee delivery to Manvinder Bisla behind the stumps in the third over.