Rinku Singh delivered one of the most memorable performances of IPL 2026, guiding Kolkata Knight Riders to a thrilling Super Over win against Lucknow Super Giants. While the innings stood out for its sheer quality, it also carried deep emotional significance, making it a night to remember beyond just cricket.
Rinku’s fiancée, Priya Saroj, revealed the heartfelt story behind the knock. “Hum bohot khush hain. Aaj unhone (Rinku) khela hi father-in-law ke liye… aaj unko hum bohot miss kar rahe hain, aur yeh unke liye hi hai,” she said, highlighting that the innings was dedicated to Rinku’s late father.
Earlier this year, Rinku lost his father, Khanchand Singh, who passed away after battling stage-four liver cancer. The tragedy had forced the batter to step away briefly from cricket during the T20 World Cup to be with his family in Aligarh. That emotional loss continues to drive him, and it was evident in the way he carried KKR’s innings under pressure.
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Walking in with KKR struggling at 93/7, Rinku produced a stunning unbeaten 83 off 51 balls. His innings was a perfect mix of composure and controlled aggression, culminating in a sensational final over where he smashed four consecutive sixes to push KKR to a competitive 155/7.
What it’s all about 🤌💜 pic.twitter.com/t4l5Rb3zMj
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 26, 2026
Very good bowling, Sunil bhaiya 😁👌 pic.twitter.com/sRHaqp6VTZ
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 27, 2026
After the match, a touching video call between Rinku’s family and Sunil Narine went viral, reflecting the emotional connect behind the victory.
Reflecting on his innings, Rinku said he focused on taking the game deep after early setbacks. “When I went into bat, four wickets had fallen… it was about keeping the scoreboard moving and putting the loose balls away,” he explained.
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Teammate Vaibhav Arora emphasized the importance of the knock. “We’ve won the game because of that knock. If it wasn’t for that, we wouldn’t have reached 155,” he said. In the end, Rinku Singh’s brilliance—powered by emotion and responsibility—proved to be the defining factor in KKR’s unforgettable win.
