Lucknow Super Giants are looking for their third win of the season, and the last time they won a match before suffering four consecutive losses was when they faced KKR at the Eden Gardens. Ajinkya Rahane looked very happy after KKR’s win against LSG.
Coming into Ekana, Kolkata Knight Riders were in high spirits as Ajinkya Rahane’s side had a convincing win over Rajasthan Royals when their bowlers dominated on a comparatively slow pitch, and a brilliant seventh-wicket partnership from Rinku Singh and Anukul Roy helped them complete their first chase of the season.
Lucknow Super Giants, on the other hand, have struggled to win games at their home ground this season and have suffered four consecutive defeats in the season. To make a comeback, like KKR, they also need to win at least five of their next matches, while winning six could give them a chance of finishing in the top 4.
Rinku Singh leads KKR to a brilliant finish as he scores a struggling score
Another day and another batting collapse from Kolkata Knight Riders. Rishabh Pant, who came to bat first, was successful in winning the toss and bowling first. After Mohsin Khan dismissed Ajinkya Rahane and Tim Seifert early, they looked to make a comeback. Ajinkya Rahane scored 10 runs and continued to struggle in the match.
However, Angakrish Raghuvanshi was dismissed in the most unorthodox manner, bringing another halt to the game as he remained their most in-form batsman. Cameron Green and Rinku Singh were trying to build a partnership, but wickets kept falling from the other end.
Rinku Singh single-handedly took KKR’s innings to a respectable 155 by the end of those 20 overs, as she scored 83* off just 51 balls with the help of seven fours and five sixes while striking over 160.
Rinku Singh’s excellent effort on the field pushes the game into the super over.
While at one point it looked like it would be difficult to defend, the LSG batsmen made it easy for the KKR bowlers after one phase. Despite losing only one wicket after the first 10 overs, Rishabh Pant and Aiden Markram managed to take the score to 63 runs.
Around 93 runs were to be scored in the last 10 overs at a net run rate of 9.30, the match became more difficult with the fall of wickets. Once again, Rinku Singh changed the course of the game by dismissing Aiden Markram as he completed a brilliant catch near the fence.
Wickets kept falling as every bowler in the attack kept taking wickets. Rinku took four catches during the innings, including the dismissal of Himmat Singh off the bowling of Kartik Tyagi in the final over. Tyagi bowled two no balls in the last over. Seven runs were needed in the final over, but the game went into a super-over after Mohammed Shami was run out for one.
Sunil Narine made a brilliant effort in the Super Over, dismissing Pooran and Markram on his very first ball, thus ending his Super Over within three balls. Rinku finished the game with a four as KKR needed 2 runs to win the match.
Very happy with the victory – Ajinkya Rahane
After KKR’s win, Ajinkya Rahane said, “Settle. Very happy with the win. The way we played after 16 overs, Rinku’s innings was amazing. That last over and the momentum our team got was amazing,” Rahane looked happy to avenge the win at Eden Gardens.
“We played SMAT here, and the clay was the same, we thought 160-170 would be a good score. But the way we bowled was amazing. It was about that belief; a wicket here and there and the opponent came back into the game. We were really confident about our spinners. We knew that one wicket would change the game for us.”
Ajinkya Rahane further said, “No, not really. Sunil Narine was the option, and it was not easy to hit the spinners over long ranges. Tyagi has been really good, Vaibhav too… all these Indian guys are doing well. But credit should not be taken away from Rinku Singh.”
Ajinkya Rahane credited his recent wins to his bowlers and Rinku Singh, “You have to be in the moment; using the long boundary is something we have talked about and people have been practicing. As a bowler you have to be clear.”
Also Read: “Need to take accountability”: Rishabh Pant criticizes entire LSG team after Super Over defeat against KKR in IPL 2026
