IPL 2023: Rinku Singh’s six-hitting spree helps KKR clinch a stunning victory over GT.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) pulled off a sensational win against Gujarat Titans (GT) in the IPL 2023 match at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday, thanks to a heroic knock by Rinku Singh. The left-handed batter smashed five sixes in a row in the final over, when KKR needed 29 runs to chase down GT’s massive total of 204/4.
Rinku, who remained unbeaten on 48 off 21 balls, stunned the GT bowlers and fielders with his power-hitting, as he took Yash Dayal to the cleaners. Umesh Yadav, who was at the other end, could only watch in awe as Rinku sealed the game with a six off the last ball.
KKR’s chase had looked shaky after they lost their openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and N Jagadeesan cheaply. But Venkatesh Iyer, who came in as an Impact Player for Suyash Sharma, changed the momentum with a blistering 84 off 40 balls. He added 100 runs for the third wicket with skipper Nitish Rana, who scored a fluent 45 off 29 balls.
Iyer’s dismissal in the 16th over triggered a collapse, as GT’s stand-in captain Rashid Khan took a hat-trick in the 17th over to reduce KKR to 155/7. Rashid dismissed Andre Russell, Sunil Narine and Shardul Thakur in successive deliveries to put GT on top.
But Rinku had other plans, as he unleashed his fury in the last over and scripted one of the most memorable wins in IPL history. Twitterati and cricket fans were in awe of his performance, as they hailed him as the new star of KKR.
Earlier, GT had posted a daunting total of 204/4, riding on Vijay Shankar’s unbeaten 63 off 24 balls. Shankar smashed four fours and five sixes to give GT a late flourish after Sai Sudharsan (53 off 38 balls) and Shubman Gill (39 off 31 balls) had set the platform. Sunil Narine was the pick of the KKR bowlers with three wickets.