In the final five balls of the game, Rinku Singh blasted five sixes, giving Kolkata Knight Riders a thrilling three-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 on Sunday. Umesh Yadav took a single to give Rinku the strike against quick bowler Yash Dayal with 29 runs needed in the last over.
After the game, KKR Skipper Nitish Rana revealed that Rinku Singh was batting with his game bat that he used in crucial games last season. He mentioned that it was a custom-made bat lighter than the regulars, which felicitates stroke play and helps better timing the big lofted hits.
Rinku Singh remained unbeaten on 48 off 21 deliveries
Speaking of the game, Gujarat Titans chose to bat first and scored 204/4 in their 20 overs. Vijay Shankar led the way with a score of 63 off 24 balls, which included five sixes and four boundaries. In the same IPL 2023 game, Sai Sudharshan also reached his second half-century, scoring 53 runs in 38 balls, including three fours and two sixes. A strong knock of 39 runs in 31 balls, including five fours, was also played by star batter Shubman Gill.
The best bowler for KKR was Sunil Narine, who finished with 3/33 in four overs. With 1/35 in his four overs, Suyash Sharma extended his strong run after capturing three wickets against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in his debut game.
KKR was reduced to 28/2 in the 205-run chase, but skipper Nitish Rana (45 off 29 balls, four boundaries, and three sixes) and Venkatesh Iyer (83 in 40 balls, eight fours and five sixes) shared a century-run partnership for the third wicket.
With 155/7, KKR was in trouble after Rashid's hat trick and the dismissal of these two set hitters. 29 runs in the last over were all that separated the winner. With five consecutive sixes in the last over, Rinku Singh made a crucial cameo and helped KKR secure what had previously seemed impossible. Rinku hit one four and six sixes in 21 balls to score 48*.
Here's how fans reacted to Nitish Rana's revelation:
Yeh Chain kulii ki main kulii wala bat hai shayad😱💀
— JASMINE 🇮🇳 (@jasminiacc) April 10, 2023
Aisa bat worldcup ke liye rakhna …!! 100-200 lagenge 😜
— Dr.Varshil Patel (@Varshil75385102) April 9, 2023
Rinku Singh and the magic bat pic.twitter.com/xhavAHV2KG
— Benoy Abraham (@benoy9117) April 9, 2023
Meri baat sun bro
— Mohd Zaman (@mohd_zaman1) April 9, 2023
Rinku jo mangta hai dedo
Ek kam kr SRK se bolne Rinku ko 20cr dilwa de
New weapon of Kingku.🔥🔥
— Ajay (@Invincible__AB) April 9, 2023
Jai-Veeru pic.twitter.com/MqY4epOtO0
— RINKU (@m4gom3d) April 9, 2023
Russell right now pic.twitter.com/jT1jgLsMwO
— Anirban Ghoshá… á… á… á… á… á… á… á… á… á… á… á… á… á… á… á… á… á… á… á… á… á… á… á… á… á… á… á… á… á… á… á… á… á… á… á… á… (@Anirban_Ghosh_) April 9, 2023
Their bond 💜
— Rinku Singh Stan 👑 (@iPriiyanka) April 9, 2023