Indian premier league is known to create new stars and turn them into legends. It was yet another story created on Sunday, when Rinku Singh went hammer and tongs for Kolkata Knight Riders. The 25 year old from Uttar Pradesh got two time champs Kolkata Knight Riders the win from an seemingly impossible situation. The game has been lauded by one and all as one of the best they have seen so far.
The story as it happened –
Defending champions Gujarat Titans took to the field at Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday to take Kolkata Knight Riders. The fans saw Rashid Khan take charge after Hardik Pandya wasn’t fit to play the game. Rashid Khan had no hesitation in winning the toss and batting first.
Shreyas Iyer video calls Rinku Singh –
Regular skipper Shreyas Iyer is currently sidelined due to an injury to his back. The 28 year old though was glued to the TV set like many others. Kolkata Knight Riders official Twitter handle posted an emotional video between Rinku Singh and Shreyas Iyer as the latter had video called the left hander.
The entire conversation is pure gold as Rinku Singh first Shreyas Iyer how he was feeling. Iyer shouted out loud and said “Rinku Bhaiya Zindabad”. Nitish Rana also made his way to be part of the talk. “Dekh raha tha ki nahi? Yaad aa rahi hai teri”
Special video call from Shreyas 💜
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 9, 2023
🗣️"...𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘳 𝘬𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘮 𝘬𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘢!" 💪#GTvKKR | #AmiKKR | #TATAIPL 2023 | @rinkusingh235 | @NitishRana_27 | @ShreyasIyer15 https://t.co/4JPK39TxPy pic.twitter.com/tEnaFu5i3a
Rinku Singh’s moment of glory –
Kolkata Knight Riders needed 43 from 12 balls with the game seemingly out of reach. The 19th over saw Josh Little concede 14 runs with Rinku hitting one six and a four to make it 29 needed of 6 balls.
After Umesh Yadav took a single of the 1st ball, the equation read 28 off 5 balls with Yash Dayal bowling. What happened next was out of the world as Rinku Singh hit 5 sixes on the trot to win the game for Kolkata Knight Riders.
Last year’s tears turned into celebration –
Rinku Singh had nearly pulled off another heist during the TATA IPL 2022 season. Kolkata Knight Riders had been set 211 to win by Lucknow Super Giants. Rinku Singh stayed not out on 40 runs of mere 15 deliveries as the Knight Riders fell short by mere 2 runs. The world witnessed Rinku Singh in tears, but this year he avenged it and Nitish Rana said the same to Shreyas Iyer.
Rana was heard saying “Rinku keh raha tha last year ki tarah chhodunga nahi, Khatm karke aaunga.”