Rinku Singh was the toast of Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) latest victory in the IPL 2023 tournament over Gujarat Titans (GT) in what is considered to be one of the greatest finishes in T20 history. He scored 30 runs by himself in the 20th over of the chase, when 29 runs were needed.
He hit Yash Dayal for five sixes in five balls of the last over, chasing down the 205-run target in epic fashion remaining unbeaten on 48 runs. Before that exciting last over, Rinku had hit Josh Little for a six and a four off the last two balls of the 19th over.
In a video posted by IPL, KKR skipper Nitish Rana asked Rinku about his batting and what was going through his mind in the last over.
“Rinku kaisa lag raha hai aapko ye innings khel kar, har koi puchna chahta hai ye, sab ko ye jawab chahiye kya tha aapke dimag mey us time 5 ball mey 28 runs chahiye the (Rinku how are you feeling now and everyone wants to know what was going through your mind when 28 was needed off the last five balls),” asks Rana.
Rinky replies: “Dimag me mere ye thoda sa doubt tha kyunki mai itna acha nahi Kehl raha tha, ball nahi lag rahi thi mere se (There was a doubt in my mind as I was not playing well and was not able to connect the ball properly).”
IPL 2023: WATCH- Shreyas Iyer video calls Rinku Singh after his 5 sixes in an over help KKR beat GT
Rinku has said that a couple of hits against Little have given him confidence.
“Second last over mey jab maine ek chakka and ek chauka mara to usse confidence aaya (That six and four in the penultimate over gave me confidence). Aur fir jo last ki paanch ball thi, paanch chakke maare, aisa mai kuch soch nahi raha tha bas jaisa ball aa raha tha waise hi khal raha tha (I was not thinking much during those last five balls, I was just playing according to the merit of the ball,” he said.
Rinku Singh also revealed that he had flashbacks of last season when he almost pulled off something similar against Lucknow Super Giants.
In that match, Rinku had smashed 15-ball 40 and with 21 to get in the last over, went 4, 6, 6, against Marcus Stoinis. But Stoinis defended 4 off 3 by picking up two wickets in two balls, including the wicket of Rinku.
“Flashbacks aa rahe they of last year ke, yahi situation thi us time bhi (I was having flashbacks of the last year. We were in the situation, and I couldn’t able to finish it off),” says Rinku.
In a heartwarming gesture Nitish Rana, who gave his bat to Rinku, said that he could have given Rinku anything.
“Agar mera aaj kuch bhi hota, maine bat aapko de hi diya hai apna jisse aap ne paanch chakke maare agar mere pass kuch aur bhi cheej hoti toh aaj mai aapko dene ko taiyyar tha koi aisi cheez jo aap maangna chahte ho mere se (I gave you my bat and you hit those five sixes from it, if you want anything else from me, feel free to ask),” says Rana.
“Nahi nahi bhaiya aapka pyar hai, aapka pyar his chahiye aur kuch nahi chahiye (I only want your love and nothing else),” replies Rinku.
In another video posted by KKR, Rana said he played with the entire domestic season with the bat, what he gave it to Rinku.
“Yeh mera match bat tha, dono match is se khela hun pura SMAT is se khela hun last year last ke 4-5 match is se khele hun aaj maine bat change kia. Rinku ne mujhse bat manga main dena nahi chata tha but koi andar se koi bat pick kar ke laya. Mujhe lag raha tha ki who yeh wala bat pick karega. Kyunki iska pick up bahut acha hai, aur yeh thoda light hai mere weight ke hisab se. Aur ab yeh rinku ka hi hai. Le liya usne mujhse (This was the bat I used in Syed Mushtaq Ali and in the last season as well. I never wanted to give it, and when he asked for a bat, I just told him go and pick one for you, and he picked this one, deep down I knew this he will pick this bat only and now the bat belongs to him),” says Rana.
Rana lauded Rinku and said: “Rinku jaisa saaf dil ka insaan maine aaj tak nahi dekha aur jo bhi isne aaj kiya hai mai bahut khus hun kis aisi innings aap life mey ek ya do baar khelte ho, mai toh ho sakta hai ek bhi na khel pau (I have never seen anyone, who is as kind hearted and pure as Rinku. We only play such kind of innings once or twice in our life, I might never play it. I am so happy for Rinku.”
Meanwhile, GT’s Rahul Tewatia was watching the interview closely and asked Rinku: “Aise kyu khada hai (Why are you standing like this?,” asks Tewatia.
Rinku replied: “Nervous hota hun bhaiya (I was nervous).
Tewatia then said: Nervous kis baat ka aaj koot diya tune (Why are you nervous, you have played such a gem of a knock today).
(Indian Express inputs)
