Luck on his side: Rinku Singh seals KKR's nervy win over RR
Luck on his side: Rinku Singh seals KKR's nervy win over RR
Rinku Singh’s unbeaten 53 steadies a tense chase as KKR pips Rajasthan Royals, turning a nervy finish into a four-wicket victory.
Kolkata Knight Riders finally snapped their IPL 2026 losing streak with a tense four-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals in a nervy chase at Eden Gardens. Rinku Singh remained unbeaten on 53 as KKR chased down the target with a ball to spare, sealing the win in front of a passionate home crowd.
Rinku admitted that luck played a part in the result, after he was dropped on eight by Nandre Burger—a moment he says changed the complexion of the game. "Sometimes it happens like that, your mind doesn’t work properly and you end up playing such shots," he said, adding that his mindset was to take the game deep after speaking with the coach and his batting partner. "The idea was to take it deep since the match was in a tricky situation."
The innings, coming at a pivotal time for the youngster who has become a fixture in the middle order, steadied the chase as KKR wrestled control in the dying overs. Anukul Roy contributed earlier with a useful start, but it was Rinku’s calm under pressure that steadied the ship. He stressed there is no fixed position for him; he can bat at number five or lower down depending on the match situation, a mindset that seems to suit the current KKR setup.
Coach and captain’s messages appeared to resonate with the youngster, underlining the growing reliance on his big-match temperament this season. Rinku’s stay at the crease was a reminder of why he remains central to KKR’s plans as IPL 2026 unfolds, with the win providing a much-needed lift after a challenging run.
