Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) were once again saved by their vice-captain Rinku Singh as his unbeaten 83 helped them post a fighting total against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 match on April 26. Rinku was also electric in the field, taking four catches excluding the one he took in the super over. In doing so, Rinku became the first player in IPL history to score 80-plus runs and take four catches in a match.
Rinku also joined the rare list of batters with 80-plus scores at no.6 or lower. The top spot is occupied by Mumbai Indians' Hardik Pandya with 34-ball 91 against KKR in 2019. KKR's current power coach Russell is second on the list with unbeaten 36-ball 88 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). In the previous edition, Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) Jitesh Sharma scored an unbeaten 85 off 33 balls against LSG. In 2019, CSK's MS Dhoni scored an unbeaten 84 off 48 balls against RCB. RCB's current mentor and batting coach Dinesh Karthik scored an unbeaten 83 from 35 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL 2024.
But, Rinkuβs score is the highest by an Indian batter at no.6 or lower in the first innings of an IPL match.
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In the clash against LSG, Rinku walked in to bat in the seventh over. KKR were 31/4. While Rinku tried to stabilise the innings, three more wickets fell. After 15 overs, KKR were 93/7. Rinku had scored 27 runs from 27 balls by then. In the slog overs, he tried to push the scoring rate. However, it was in the 19th over he upped the ante. The southpaw hit Mohammed Shami for a six and two fours. In the final over, he took on Digvesh Rathi, smashing him for four consecutive sixes. He remained unbeaten for a 51-ball 83, his highest score in T20 career.Β
Later, Rinku took catches of Aiden Markram, Mukul Choudhary, Himmat Singh and George Linde. Markram's catch was the toughest as it was taken on the boundary line. He took another catch in the super over as well. Then, he walked out to bat in the super over run chase and finished the game with a boundary.
Rinkuβs plan
The 28-year-old was named βPlayer of the matchβ.
βWhenever I go in to bat and the team has already lost 3-4 wickets, my focus is on how to control and take the game forward. I think about how to rotate strike - get singles and doubles - and where I can find boundaries. My main aim is always to take the game till the end,β Rinku said in the post-match presentation.Β
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βThe plan was simple: since wickets had fallen, I focused on playing safe, building the innings with singles/doubles, and hitting a boundary whenever I got a bad ball.
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βThere wasnβt any fixed plan like saving shots for the last overs. I just reacted to the situation. Later I realized a spinner was bowling, so I adjusted accordingly.β
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Rinku was asked about his fielding. He has always loved fielding and revealed not being ready for the catch in the super over.
βIβve always loved fielding since childhood. Iβm naturally fit, so I can run fast and cover the ground well. I just enjoy fielding a lot,β the middle-order batter said.Β
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βHonestly, I was not ready for that catch. I thought the ball would go somewhere else, but suddenly it came towards me and I managed to catch it.β
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KKRβs top run-scorer
Rinku is currently KKR's leading run-scorer in the season. From seven innings, he has scored 215 runs at an average of 53.75 and strike rate of 141.44. He has scored two consecutive fifties after three single-digit scores.