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Captain Ajinkya Rahane revealed what was the difference maker in the nail-biting IPL 2025 clash against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the iconic Eden Gardens.
KKR had the last laugh against RR, securing a narrow one-run win at their home ground. After winning the toss and electing to bat first, KKR posted a big total of 206/4 riding on strong batting shows by Andre Russell, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Rinku Singh.
In defense of their score, KKR initially took firm control of the game, reducing RR to a precarious 71/5. However, a resilient comeback was mounted by Riyan Parag and Shimron Hetmyer, taking the match down to the wire. The final over witnessed intense drama, culminating in a perfectly executed yorker by Vaibhav Arora on the last ball, sealing a hard-fought win for KKR.
During the post-match presentation, a satisfied Ajinkya Rahane, the captain of KKR, expressed his team's pleasure in winning such a closely contested match. While lauding KKR's fielding he said that if you can take a couple of good catches and effect a run-out, it makes all the difference.
"It was really close but really happy, when you win by one or two runs it gives you a lot of satisfaction. (On the importance of fielding well) It's really important, if you can save 10-12 runs on the field it's great. If you can take a couple of good catches and effect a run-out, it makes all the difference," Rahane said at the post-match presentation.
"Gurbaz and Angkrish played well and that finish from Russell was really good. The plan was to go hard in the powerplay and then stabilise things till the 12th over. It was not easy for a new batter so me and Angkrish were talking to take it deep," he added.
Rinku Singh's exceptional fielding prowess proved to be the defining factor, keeping their aspirations for the IPL 2025 playoffs very much alive.
The dramatic climax unfolded in the final over when RR needed just three runs off the last delivery. Shubham Dubey struck the ball towards long-off and called for a crucial second run. However, Rinku Singh, positioned expertly on the boundary, showcased remarkable athleticism. He sprinted towards the ball, executed a clean pick-up, and swiftly delivered a sharp, one-bounce throw to bowler Vaibhav Arora. Arora, with composure under pressure, calmly dislodged the bails, catching a diving Jofra Archer just short of his crease. This sensational piece of fielding sealed a thrilling one-run win for KKR, igniting jubilant celebrations within their camp.
"It was important to save that (18.2) boundary. This is one of the quickest outfields in India. It is my role to do well in the outfield, I like to take the responsibility. I enjoy my fielding, probably more than my batting," Rinku said after the match.
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