Sport

Twitter compares Rinku Singh to Superman as KKR batsman’s last-over heroics seal 3-wicket win

April 9, 2023
Bharat Times

Kolkata Knight Riders pulled off an improbable victory against Gujarat Titans in the IPL thanks to Rinku Singh’s heroics in the final over. With five balls to spare, Kolkata needed 28 runs to win, and Gujarat looked to have the match in their hands after Rashid Khan took a hat-trick. But Rinku hit five consecutive sixes to give Kolkata an unforgettable three-wicket win at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Earlier, Gujarat posted an impressive 204/4 in their 20 overs riding on fifties from B Sai Sudarshan and Vijay Shankar. Sudarshan hit his second consecutive half-century of the tournament, scoring 53 off 38 balls, while Shankar was sensational, hitting 63 not out in just 24 balls, hitting five sixes and two fours in the 19th and 20th overs.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to Rinku Singh’s bravery –

In reply, Kolkata got off to a brisk start, with Venkatesh Iyer hitting a 40-ball 83 and sharing a 100-run partnership with skipper Nitish Rana. But Rashid’s hat-trick in the 17th over turned the match in Gujarat’s favor and it looked like it was almost over for Kolkata. However, Rinku had other ideas and produced a jaw-dropping display of strokeplay to seal Kolkata’s victory.

Despite the early loss of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and N Jagadeesan, Iyer came in as an impressive player and played an explosive innings. Every shot that came off his bat was subtle middle, including an upper cut over third man for a six and a deft shot from Alzarri Joseph. After the field restrictions were lifted, Iyer hit Yash Dayal for a four and a six in the seventh over and Rana pulled Joseph for two sixes in the next over.

In the 15th over, Iyer hit Josh Little for two fours and finished the over with a clean swing over long-off for a six. However, his blistering innings came to an end in the very next over when he was dismissed at long-on by Joseph. When Rashid took a hat-trick in the 17th over, the crowd got the noise back and it looked like Kolkata had lost the match.

But Rinku had different plans and hit Little straight down the ground for a six and pulled him through square leg for a four in the 19th over. With 29 needed in the final over, Rinku hit a hat-trick of sixes over wide long off, backward square leg and long off. After this, he gave Kolkata an unimaginable victory by hitting consecutive sixes over the long on fence. Rinku’s unbeaten 48 in the final over will go down in IPL history as one of the greatest finishes, and Kolkata Knight Riders will cherish this memorable victory for years to come.

Brief Scores: Gujarat Titans 204/4 in 20 overs (B Sai Sudarshan 53, Vijay Shankar 63 not out; Sunil Narine 3-33, Suyash Sharma 1-35) defeat Kolkata Knight Riders 207/7 in 20 overs (Venkatesh Iyer 83) Lost, Rinku Singh 48 not out; Rashid Khan 3-37, Alzarri Joseph 2-27) by three wickets