Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) lost to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their final league match of the IPL 2023 by just one run and were knocked out of the competition as well. The match which was played on May 20 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata saw Rinku Singh’s heroics almost taking KKR through.
Set 177 runs to win by LSG, KKR were floundering at 120/5 with Andre Russell back in the hut. But Rinku Singh came to the party with 67* with 4 sixes and 6 fours. But the home side finished on 175/7 in 20 overs and lost by the smallest of margins possible- 1 run.
Rinku has had an excellent IPL 2023 season for KKR where he scored 474 runs in 14 games with 4 fifties at a strike rate of 149.52 and average of 59.25.
The highlight for Rinku was his five consecutive sixes to Yash Dayal in last over where he single-handedly won the match for KKR against Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad.
After the match, Rinku shared that his heroics from the GT game was running through his mind as he attempted to pull off another heist.
“That was running through my mind a bit, when I hit five sixes (against Gujarat Titans). So I was relaxed and confident of handling the situation. We needed 21 runs off the last over and I missed one ball, became a four,” Rinku said at the post-match press conference.
The lower-order batter also said that the five-sixes feat has helped him gain more recognition and respect, however, he is still not thinking about an India call-up.
“Anyone will feel good when the season goes so well. But I’m not thinking on the lines of selection for the Indian team. I will stick to my routine, continue my practice. The name and fame will be there but I’ll just stick to my work.
My family members are very happy. A lot of things have worked well. When I played that innings last year, people started noticing me. After I hit those five sixes, I started getting a lot of respect from the people and now a lot of people recognize me. So, it feels good,” he said.
India’s next white-ball assignment will be on a tour of West Indies in July and August, and it remains to be seen whether the BCCI selectors pay heed to his performances in the IPL an give him a chance.
(IPL inputs)
