Rinku Singh silences doubts with another power-packed finishing display for KKR
Lucknow
Three years after being told he would never repeat his iconic finish, Rinku Singh delivered another explosive reply with the bat, powering Kolkata Knight Riders in a thrilling IPL 2026 encounter against Lucknow Super Giants.
In a high-pressure match at Ekana Stadium, Rinku smashed an unbeaten 83 off 51 balls, including a stunning sequence of four consecutive sixes in the final over, guiding KKR to a competitive total of 155 for 7. His late assault completely changed the momentum of the innings after KKR were in deep trouble early on.
The performance came as a direct response—on the field—to a famous remark made three years ago by former India opener Virender Sehwag, who had said that Rinku would never be able to recreate his legendary five-sixes finish from 2023.
That historic moment had come against Gujarat Titans in 2023, when Rinku stunned the cricketing world by hitting five consecutive sixes in the final over to seal an impossible chase. At the time, Sehwag had called it a once-in-a-lifetime feat.
But in Lucknow, Rinku once again showed his finishing power under pressure. Walking in after early wickets left KKR struggling, he rebuilt the innings with controlled aggression before launching a brutal assault in the death overs.
He targeted experienced pacer Mohammed Shami in the 19th over before turning his attention to spinner Digvesh Rathi in the final over. The result was a sequence of clean, fearless hitting that included seven fours and five sixes in his innings, pushing KKR to a fighting total.
The knock also underlined Rinku’s mental strength, coming in a season where he has faced personal hardship following the passing of his father earlier this year. Despite the emotional setback, he has continued to deliver crucial performances for his team.
Rinku’s rise from Aligarh to becoming one of the most feared finishers in the IPL has been marked by consistency in pressure situations. His latest innings further strengthened his reputation as a dependable lower-order match-winner.
While KKR’s overall result depended on the Super Over outcome, Rinku’s innings stood out as the defining performance of the match, proving once again that his finishing ability is no one-off moment, but a growing legacy in modern T20 cricket.