- Shamser Khalid
Internet Explodes Over Rinku Singh and KKR's Win
In what can only be described as an incredible display of power-hitting, Rinku Singh of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) pulled off a thrilling win against the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Sunday.
With 29 runs needed off the last over, Rinku smashed five consecutive sixes to seal the win for KKR in what was one of the greatest wins in T20 cricket history.
Following the victory, Singh and the team were bombarded with tributes and posts celebrating their amazing achievement.
Tributes and Messages from Fellow Cricketers
The cricketing fraternity took to social media to laud Rinku's heroics, with legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar noting that the match taught fans that "it is not over till it is over." Other cricketing greats such as Virender Sehwag, Irfan Pathan, and Mohammed Kaif also expressed their awe and admiration for Rinku's knock.
When talking about his performance KKR skipper Nitish Rana praised Rinku for his performance, saying, "People asked me why Rinku Singh doesn't get a bigger role, and always plays a small role. I want to say to those reporters if this is the second role, imagine what he can do with the first role."
In response to the waves of tributes, KKR's captain Shreyas Iyer to made a video call to congratulate Singh. Iyer, who is not playing this season due to an injury, couldn't believe his eyes as he watched Rinku's incredible innings.
Joined by stand-in captain Nitish Rana, the three had a heartwarming conversation over the phone. Rinku expressed his determination to finish the game this year, unlike the previous season where he missed out on a win by just 2 runs.
Cheers from Stars
Aside from other cricketers cheering for Singh's achievement, the player also received praise from none other than Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. Shah Rukh Khan was over the moon as his team Kolkata Knight Riders won the Sunday IPL match against Gujarat Titans.
The actor took to Twitter to congratulate the player, even calling him his ‘baby’, and shared an edited poster from his recent hit, Pathaan, featuring Rinku in his place.
Excited fans flooded the comment section, with one even suggesting that Rinku deserved a dinner at Shah Rukh’s home, Mannat. Rinku’s performance has not only impressed Shah Rukh, but several other celebrities including actor Ranveer Singh and Shah Rukh’s son Aryan Khan.
Other Highlights and Results
But the win wasn't just about Rinku's incredible last-over performance. KKR's Nitish Rana and Venkatesh Iyer also played important innings, putting on a hundred-run stand for the third wicket to keep KKR in the hunt. And it was Sunil Narine's three wickets and Suyash Sharma's solid performance with the ball that helped restrict GT to 204/4 in their 20 overs.
With this win, KKR climbed to third position in the points table, with four points from three matches. GT has slipped to fourth position, with a similar win-loss record but a lower net-run rate.
Singh's unbelievable match-winning cameo earned him the 'Player of the Match award and also earned him praise from many celebrities, including actor Ananya Panday.
The KKR VS GT match will go down in history as one of the most thrilling IPL games ever played, thanks to Rinku's unbelievable performance.
