IPL 2023: 'Last tak kheliyo!' Rinku Singh recalls his conversation with KKR captain Nitish Rana

Rinku Singh played the knock of his life during match 14 of IPL 2023 -- Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders (GT vs KKR) -- when the southpaw shot five sixes in the last over to help KKR chase down 30 runs in the last over in Ahmedabad. The southpaw, who expectedly, collected the man of the match award, recalled his conversation with KKR captain Nitish Rana.

"Rana bhai ne bola tha last tak kheliyo (Rana asked me to play till the end)," said Rinku Singh at the post-match presentation ceremony. "Will see how it goes from there on. I had the belief in me to do it (hit sixes in the last over) because I did something similar against Lucknow (Super Giants) last year but couldn't win it that time."

Rinku Singh's unbelievable innings left many mesmerised as the cricket fraternity took to social media in awe of the knock that saw pacer Yash Dayal at the receiving end of it. The UP batter, who has been part of the KKR franchise since 2018, struggled for a place in the playing 11 until skipper Shreyas Iyer showed faith in him last season. Rinku repaid the faith by playing some influential knocks.

KKR's captain for the season, Nitish Rana, who memorably ran in delight to the ground after Rinku Singh's heroics, said he was out of words to explain how the batter pulled off the unthinkable.

"Humein thodi umeed thi (We had a little belief)," said Rana. "Rinku did something like this last year, although we didn't win that match. When the second six was struck, we started believing more because Yash Dayal wasn't executing that well. As a captain, it's important to have the belief.

"But this is a 1 in a 100 chance for something like this to happen. We were good with the ball except the last two overs. Same thing with the bat - that over from Rashid put us on the back foot. Credit goes to Rinku Singh. The two points we have from this game are thanks to him."

"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. Last match he played a different role, and he did it well.

"To be honest, if I was batting and needed 30 off one over, the thought of having the belief would be there, but in your heart you know what you're capable of. I don't have words for him."