Rinku Singh, a Kolkata Knight Riders player, had previously scored 40 runs off just 15 balls in the IPL 2022 season. He was close to leading his team to an unlikely victory against the Lucknow Super Giants in their last league game. However, a spectacular catch by Evin Lewis on the penultimate ball of the game resulted in Rinku’s dismissal and Kolkata’s loss.
Fast forward to April 9, 2023, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where KKR needed 29 runs for a win against Gujarat Titans. After Umesh Yadav took a single off Yash Dayal’s over, Rinku smashed five successive sixes on the last five balls, leading an improbable heist for Kolkata. Rinku, unbeaten on 48, attributed his miraculous knock to immense self-belief.
Rana, Kolkata’s captain, also endorsed Rinku’s six-hitting abilities and believed in his potential to play a bigger role in the team. He praised Rinku’s innings and felt that the game had many twists and turns.
Venkatesh Iyer, who almost single-handedly won Kolkata the match with a sparkling 83, was left in awe of Rinku’s thrilling finish. He believes that Rinku’s performance will inspire the team in future matches. Iyer also shared his experience of playing on a good wicket and how he executed his plans to score runs.
Overall, Kolkata’s win was a nail-biting finish and a great morale booster for the team. They aim to create a habit of winning and never giving up until the last ball.
