Kolkata Knight Riders’ Rinku Singh delivered a landmark innings against Lucknow Super Giants on Sunday, rewriting a record that had stood for more than a decade. The batter finished unbeaten on 83 from 51 balls, striking seven fours and five sixes while helping KKR move beyond the 150-run mark.
At a glance
- Rinku Singh scored 83* off 51 balls vs Lucknow Super Giants.
- His knock featured seven fours and five sixes.
- KKR crossed 150 with a 62-run partnership with Sunil Narine.
- Rinku’s 83* became the highest IPL score by a No. 6 batter.
- He surpassed MS Dhoni’s 70* off 40 for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2011 vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
- CSK head coach Stephen Fleming said MS Dhoni’s return will be delayed due to a fresh calf injury in a warm-up.
- CSK have played eight matches this season without Dhoni.
- Fleming suggested Dhoni is progressing, but a cautious rehabilitation is now needed.
- CSK have a five-day break before their next game against Mumbai Indians in the same city.
Rinku’s finishing ability was on full display as he stayed unbeaten throughout the chase-building effort. The right-hand batter combined with Sunil Narine for a 62-run stand, a key platform that allowed KKR to accelerate once the innings was properly set.
More importantly, Rinku’s unbeaten 83 also became the top score in the IPL by a No. 6 batsman. In doing so, he broke the mark previously held by MS Dhoni, who had made an unbeaten 70 off 40 deliveries for Chennai Super Kings in an IPL 2011 match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Dhoni’s delayed return
While KKR celebrated Rinku’s record-setting performance, Chennai Super Kings faced fresh injury concerns around their former captain. CSK head coach Stephen Fleming said on Sunday that Dhoni’s comeback to the ongoing tournament will be pushed further back after he suffered a new calf problem during a warm-up game.
Fleming noted that CSK have already gone through eight matches this season without Dhoni. He explained that the initial expectation was for a return within a couple of weeks, but the calf issue has worsened, making the team adopt a more cautious rehabilitation approach.
Speaking after the match, Fleming stressed the risk of recurrence if the injury is rushed. He said Dhoni remains highly motivated, but added that if the calf is tested too early and it “rips again,” then it could derail the recovery completely.
Fleming also detailed the sequence of events leading to the setback. He said the plan was pushed forward earlier, but during a warm-up Dhoni tweaked the calf again, after which the focus shifted to building movement and responsiveness through rehab work. However, the setback has meant the process is taking longer than first anticipated.
The CSK coach said Dhoni is taking a close, hands-on role with the support staff. Fleming stated that the wicketkeeper-batter is working closely with the team physios, completing the rehabilitation sessions while the management waits for the appropriate clearance and “the word” from the medical team.
With CSK set to have a five-day interval before their next fixture against Mumbai Indians in the same venue city, Fleming said they will keep monitoring Dhoni’s progress. His update, though, suggested that a return still looks unlikely in the immediate term.
Dhoni has been attending training regularly but has limited his activity largely to throwdowns. He was recently observed carrying out wicketkeeping drills, which briefly revived speculation about a potential comeback, even as the calf injury continues to govern the timeline.
