Rinku Singh lit up IPL 2026 on Sunday, steering Kolkata Knight Riders to a dramatic win over Lucknow Super Giants. The 28-year-old struck an unbeaten 83 to drag his team out of danger, and then backed it up with five catches in the field as KKR sealed the result in a Super Over. His performance drew widespread admiration not just for his batting, but also for the timely backing he received during a key stand with Sunil Narine.
During the post-match interaction, the presenter joked about whether Rinku should be called “Rinku Sankatmochan” given his knack for delivering in high-pressure situations. Rinku responded with a smile, saying, “Rinku is fine.” He went on to explain his mindset after early setbacks: “When I went into bat, four wickets had fallen, so I kept thinking about how I can go about it and that I have to take the game till the end. Since we had lost four wickets, it was about keeping the scoreboard moving and putting the loose balls away. I like fielding since my childhood, I am fit and I enjoy my fielding. I was not ready, I thought he would complete the catch, but he threw it long and I was able to hang on.”
The match itself was a showdown between two sides rooted near the bottom of the table, and it swung wildly throughout. Lucknow were set a target of 156, but a collapse followed, leaving them unable to chase with any control. The visitors ultimately managed to force a tie and push the game into a Super Over, thanks to a late twist in the final moments.
With the game on the verge of slipping away, No. 9 Mohammed Shami struck a last-ball six against Kartik Tyagi, who conceded 16 runs in the final over. That boundary ensured the scores were level at the end of regulation overs, setting the stage for the tiebreak.
In the Super Over, Sunil Narine delivered the decisive moment, bowling a superb spell that conceded just one run while also taking two wickets. With that pressure applied, KKR were handed an uncomplicated target to complete the job, and Rinku Singh finished the chase with a boundary off the first ball he faced from Prince Yadav.
Earlier in the day, Kolkata had been in serious trouble, slipping to 93/7 in 15 overs. Rinku’s innings changed the trajectory of the chase at a crucial time, as he struck a commanding 83 not out off 51 balls. He was especially devastating late on, smashing four sixes in succession in the final over to lift KKR to 155/7.
Cameron Green, who made 34, was the only other batter to reach double figures for Kolkata. Apart from Rinku’s surge, KKR suffered the kind of batting collapse that has become familiar, with Mohsin claiming his maiden five-wicket haul.
When Lucknow came out to bat, their struggles continued, and they eventually fell to their fifth straight defeat. The loss underlined how their late push—sparked by Shami’s final-ball heroics—came too late to overcome the damage done earlier in the chase.
