Had the belief that I can do it: Rinku Singh

We have seen quite a few last ball sixes to clinch the game. They are enthralling. We have also witnessed two sixes off the last two balls to finish a chase. Even better. But how about five sixes in a row? It sounds akin to flirting with the impossible. 

However, Rinku Singh made it possible in the blink of an eye. Kolkata Knight Riders appeared down and out after Rashid Khan’s hat-trick in the 17th over, leaving Rinku Singh as the only specialist batter to do the hard yards. To make it more complex, they needed 28 off the last five balls. But for Rinku, it was quite simple - a boundary off every ball. Be it five sixes or four sixes and a four. 

Facing Yash Dayal, the left-hander went five sixes in a row to clinch an unbelievable win for Kolkata. 

Watching this on L➅➅➅➅➅P... and we still can't believe what we just witnessed! 🤯pic.twitter.com/1tyryjm47W

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 9, 2023

“Had the belief that I can do it,” said the left-hander after pulling off the impossible for his side. 

“Last year I was in a similar situation in Lucknow. Had the belief back then too. Didn't think too much out there. Those shots just happened one after the other,” he further explained after accepting the player-of-the-match award for his heroics. 

His skipper Nitish Rna echoed similar sentiments. “We had a little belief. Rinku did something like this last year, although we didn't win that match. As a captain, it's important to have the belief. But this is a 1 in a 100 chance for something like this to happen,” Rana told at the post-match presentation. 

The skipper said it was the second six that instilled belief in the side. “When the second six was struck, we started believing more because Yash Dayal wasn't executing that well. Credit goes to Rinku Singh. The two points we have from this game are thanks to him,” the skipper said. 

Rana was the first one to rush to Rinku after the final six. One could sense the jubilation in his eyes and the KKR skipper couldn’t stop praising his teammate for snatching a win from the jaws of defeat. 

“People asked me why Rinku Singh doesn't get a bigger role, and always plays a small role. I want to say to those reporters if this is the second role, imagine what he can do with the first role. Last match he played a different role, and he did it well,” Rana spoke further on Rinku. 

He also placed himself in Rinku’s shoes stating he would have had the belief too but getting the job done is a different thing altogether. 

“To be honest, if I was batting and needed 30 off one over, the thought of having the belief would be there, but in your heart, you know what you're capable of. I don't have words for him.”

After a poor start in Mohali, Kolkata’s campaign is back on track with two successive wins. Kolkata will next face Sunrisers Hyderabad in a home game on Friday night (April 14).