Rinku Singh showcased his fielding brilliance to help the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) clinch a thrilling one-run victory over the Rajasthan Royals (RR) at Eden Gardens. Yet, the match-winning effort might have left Rinku with a fitness concern, sparking worries over his availability as KKR battles for a playoff spot in the IPL 2025.
Earlier in KKR’s innings, Rinku smashed an unbeaten 19 from just six balls, assisting his side in reaching 206 for 4. As RR pursued 22 runs in the final over of their chase, Rinku was instrumental again. On the over’s first delivery, he sprinted right at deep cover and executed a diving stop to prevent Jofra Archer from scoring a boundary. His landing was less graceful, and he was seen limping while clutching his right groin area.
With three runs required from the last ball – and two needed for a Super Over, Shubham Dubey squeezed a yorker from Vaibhav Arora towards mid-off. Stationed at long-off, Rinku sprang into action, fielded the ball smoothly, and relayed it to Arora, who ran out a diving Archer to secure victory. A tactical switch by captain Ajinkya Rahane moments before had placed Rinku at long-off instead of long-on.
Discussing his fielding performance post-match, Rinku commented, “The dive was crucial because the Eden Gardens outfield is known for its speed. You have to be sharp. Fielding outside the 30-yard circle is something I enjoy more than batting.”
The skill displayed by Rinku drew praise from ESPNcricinfo TimeOut expert Ambati Rayudu, who highlighted Rinku’s focus. “That was a great pick-up. The ball wobbled just before his hands but his eyes were stuck to the ball,” noted Rayudu.
Needing to win all remaining matches for a realistic playoff chance, KKR delivered a commendable fielding performance. Even at the start of RR’s innings, Rahane, despite heavily bandaged stitches on his right hand, caught Vaibhav Suryavanshi mid-run from midwicket.
Rahane later elaborated, “Fielding lets us control aspects as a unit. Saving 10-12 runs on the field is a bonus. If we can pull off a couple of brilliant catches and stops, that’s the fine margin.”
This disciplined approach in the field propelled KKR to sixth in the standings, leaving them poised for a potential push to the playoffs.
