Rinku Reigns As Sixes Rain

IPL 16 : Gujarat Titans (GT) vs Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)-Match 13: Ahmedabad

Awestruck…I am

‘Awestruck to the limits‘ is how I can describe what transpired in the last over of the KKR – GT match in Ahmedabad on Sunday evening. A match of dramatic proportions swung both ways before Rinku Singh pulled it back from the brink of defeat to register the most improbable of victories for KKR in the history of IPL.

Vijay Shankar : A Terrific Knock

GT, on the back of a scintillating knock from Vijay Shankar (63 *) set a stiff 205 runs target for KKR. The chase did not begin well for KKR with the impressive Rahmanullah Gurbaz  and N Jagadeesan not lasting long. However, the impact of the Impact Player Venkatesh Iyer was resounding as he played a blinder in partnership with KKR Captain Nitish Rana and brought KKR almost in touching distance of the massive target. But then the match took a sensational turn.

Rashid Spins it in GT’s favour

After KKR lost Iyer (83 of just 40 balls), Rashid Khan, captaining the GT side in the absence of Hardik Pandya took a terrific hat trick and turned the match upside down. Andre Russel, Sunil Narine and Shardul Thakur perished on successive deliveries, with Rinku Singh stuck on the other end. Some tight bowling ensued and the target seemed a losing chase at that point. Of the last two balls of the 19th over, Rinku Singh struck a 4 and a 6 leaving a mammoth 29 runs to get in the last over. History had to be created to win the match. It was virtually improbable.

The Last Over & Rinku’s Incredible Crunchers

Yash Dayal, the left arm seamer was entrusted with the last over. Umesh Yadav took a single of the first  ball to get Rinku on strike. Yash Dayal tried to bowl yorkers of the next 3 balls, missing every time. The deliveries became juicy full tosses for Rinku and he very clinically dispatched them beyond the ropes. Two went over extra cover and one a wristy flick over backward square leg. The striking was both replete with power and precision. Pressure began to mount on Dayal while Rinku began to gain confidence, the belief to get another two sixes strengthened. The fifth ball was a slow half tracker which hardly bounced and was struck brilliantly straight down the ground for the 4th six of the over . KKR were just a hit away with Dayal totally nonplussed and out of ideas. The last ball was a back of the hand slower delivery, which again sat up and Rinku slammed it straight down the ground for the 5th six of the over. Rinku had managed a royal heist of sorts. The local GT fans were shocked and so were the ones supporting KKR. It was an amazing spectacle. History was created and Rinku Singh had made a name for himself. Rinku was grabbed by his team mates. His coach Chandrakant Pandit almost in tears, not letting Rinku leave his tight hug. The scenes were exceptional and one to savour for any cricket fan. 

The Humble Knight from Aligarh

Rinku Singh, remained cool under immense pressure and remained more than humble post his heroics. The simple, extremely hardworking and a fiercely loyal knight of KKR, from Aligarh, proved his mettle yet again. Years and years of struggle and patience have  eventually paid off for Rinku Singh. The world is talking about him, his achievement is record shattering, but he still remains a man of few words and enormous humility. 

What a Game. Rinku has brought the IPL 16 alive. 

He Reigns as the 6s Rain. 

Read Quick, Read Better @ rizkhan.in

Featured Image : Rinku Singh- The Player of the Match