Anukul Roy and Rinku Singh after the match. (IPL image)
New Delhi: Kolkata Knight Riders finally broke their losing streak in IPL 2026 with a tense four-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals, and vice-captain Rinku Singh admitted the turning point came with a slice of luck that changed everything.A fall early in their innings proved crucial as Rinku went on to score an unbeaten 53, guiding KKR through pressure and confusion in a nervous chase that reached the final.Go beyond boundaries with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!Rinko was honest about the role luck played in him winning the match, especially after he was given a lifeline at a crucial stage.“Sometimes it happens that way when some things don’t go your way, so you feel that intensity. But it wasn’t like I was hesitant or unsure about making my shots,” he said.
“My mentality was to stay in the match until the end because I had conversations with the coach and also with my batting partner. The idea was to take it deep because the match was in a tough situation.”As it happened: KKR vs RR, IPL 2026He acknowledged the moment that turned the match firmly in KKR’s favour, as Rinku Singh was given away in the 8th over by Nandri Burger – a regulation chance that ultimately proved to be the turning point in the match.“That’s what happens sometimes. In that moment, the mind doesn’t work properly and you end up playing such shots.
But fortunately, luck was on my side and we won the match in the end.”
Rinko added that the roles came at an important time on a personal level.“I have played quite a few roles and was waiting for a big tour. These were very good innings for me and also very important for my self-confidence,” he said.With KKR struggling at different stages of the chase, Renko emphasized clarity in approach and communication.“There is nothing better than a fixed position for me. I can bat at number five, lower down the order, or even at number four.
Wherever the team needs me, I am ready to bat in that position.He also highlighted the importance of the team’s first win.“This will give us a lot of confidence because this is our first win of the season. From here, we will continue this momentum forward.”The win came after KKR suffered repeated collapses earlier in the tournament, making this comeback all the more important.KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane described it as an emotional breakthrough after a tough start to the season, praising Rinku and the bowling unit for keeping their nerve under pressure.For Captain RR
Ryan Baraj
the match was dragged down by missed opportunities, including the dropped catch that gave Rinko his lifeline.“We couldn’t drop the catch, and that cost us the game,” Parag admitted, also citing execution issues in the death overs.