It was an unforgettable moment for cricket fans as Rinku Singh did the impossible against Gujarat Titans in a recent match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. The Kolkata Knight Riders’ middle-order batter gave a spectacular performance by smashing five consecutive sixes and scoring 48 runs in just 21 balls, leading his team to a thrilling last-gasp victory over Rashid Khan’s side.
Khan, who was leading the defending champions in the absence of Hardik Pandya, nearly turned the match in his team’s favor with the first hat trick of the season. He dismissed the KKR trio of Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and Shardul Thakur back-to-back, leaving the KKR fans stunned. However, Rinku Singh had other plans.
With Yash Dayal bowling the final over and KKR needing 29 runs off just six balls, the match seemed to be slipping out of their hands. But Rinku Singh’s last-over blitz completely changed the course of the match, leaving the Titans stunned.
Rashid won the toss and elected to bat first, with Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha giving the Titans a good start. However, Saha departed early, and Gill continued his knock. The young opener scored 39 runs, while Sai Sudharsan added a fifty to keep the scoreboard ticking. Then came the storm, as Vijay Shankar smashed a 63-run knock in just 24 balls.
Shankar smashed three sixes in a row against Shardul Thakur, helping his side reach a total of 204/4. It was the first time in IPL 2023 that a 200-plus total was successfully chased down. KKR lost early wickets and were struggling at 28/2 in a massive chase, but Venkatesh Iyer gave his side a glimmer of hope.
Iyer came on as an impact sub, replacing young Suyash Sharma, and smashed 83 runs in just 40 balls. He kept hitting the ball into the stands, helping his side get closer to the target. Disaster struck when Rashid dismissed Russell, Narine, and Shardul on consecutive balls, picking up the first hat-trick of IPL 2023.
However, Rinku Singh provided KKR with one of the most incredible finishes to an IPL game in the league’s history. He completely turned the match on its head, smashing five consecutive sixes in the final over to help KKR pick up a thrilling victory.
In a league where big-hitting has become a norm, Rinku’s feat is one to remember for ages. The stylish left-hander showed his class, composure, and nerve in a pressure situation, proving why he is one of the best middle-order batters in the game. His performance also gave the KKR fans a reason to smile and hope for more such incredible finishes in the future.
Rinku’s last-over blitz would go down as one of the most memorable moments of the IPL 2023 season. It was a display of sheer power and batting prowess, leaving the opposition bowlers clueless. The fans who witnessed this spectacle will cherish the memory for years to come, while Rinku Singh will go down as a legend in the KKR’s history books.
Match Highlights:
- Rinku Singh was the hero for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their match against Gujarat Titans, hitting five consecutive sixes to score 48 runs off just 21 balls and secure a thrilling three-wicket victory.
- Titans captain Rashid Khan won the toss and chose to bat first, with Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha putting on a solid opening partnership before Gill was dismissed for 39.
- Titans’ Sai Sudharsan then scored a half-century and Vijay Shankar smashed 63 runs in just 24 balls, including three consecutive sixes against Shardul Thakur to help Titans set a target of 204/4.
- KKR lost early wickets in their chase, but Venkatesh Iyer’s explosive 83 runs in 40 balls kept them in the game until Rashid’s hat-trick threatened to end their hopes.
- However, Rinku Singh had other ideas, smashing five consecutive sixes off Yash Dayal’s final over to secure a stunning victory for KKR.
