Rinku Singh’s exceptional performance during KKR’s historic win over GT elevated him to hero status, but it had a visible impact on left-arm GT pacer Yash Dayal, who bore the brunt of Singh’s attack in the final over and was visibly disheartened.
On Sunday, Rinku Singh, the all-rounder for Kolkata Knight Riders, showcased his incredible skills by hitting five consecutive sixes in the final over, leading his team to a historic three-wicket triumph over defending champions Gujarat Titans in an IPL 2023 match. With 29 runs needed off the last over, KKR’s chances of winning seemed slim. However, after Umesh Yadav took a single off the first ball, Rinku seized the opportunity and smashed five sixes in a row to secure the victory for his team.
Rinku’s outstanding performance undoubtedly elevated him to hero status, but Yash Dayal, the left-arm pacer from Gujarat Titans who bore the brunt of his attack in the final over, was visibly distraught. Rinku, who shared the Uttar Pradesh dressing room with Yash Dayal during domestic cricket, recently disclosed in an interview with India Today how he reached out to console the southpaw.
In the interview, Rinku said, “I texted Yash after the game, saying it happens in cricket, you did really well last year, I just tried to motivate him a little.”
Furthermore, after the match, the KKR franchise took the time to console Dayal with a heartwarming message, which they shared on Twitter. “Chin up, lad. Just a hard day at the office, happens to the best of players in cricket. You’re a champion, Yash, and you’re gonna come back strong,” the tweet read.
Rinku’s brilliance in the final over was demonstrated in the way he dealt with the first three deliveries he faced. All three were full-tosses, and Rinku seized the opportunity to smash them for sixes.
With 10 runs required off two balls, Yash Dayal bowled a slower length delivery, but Rinku once again hit it over the fence for another six. The last ball of the match was a back-of-the-length slower ball, but with nerves of steel, Rinku struck it over long-on for yet another six, securing the game for KKR in a spectacular fashion.
