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 dropped catch early in his innings proved decisive as Rinku went on to score an unbeaten 53, guiding KKR through pressure and confusion in a nervy chase that went down to the final over.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Rinku was honest about how fortune played a role in his match-winning knock, especially after being given a lifeline at a crucial stage.
“Sometimes it happens like that when a few things don’t go your way, so you feel that intensity. But it wasn’t like I was hesitating or unsure about playing my shots,” he said. “My mindset was to take the game till the end because I had conversations with the coach and also with my batting partner. The idea was to take it deep since the match was in a tricky situation.”As it happened: KKR vs RR, IPL 2026He acknowledged the moment that shifted the game firmly in KKR’s favour, with Rinku Singh dropped on eight by Nandre Burger — a regulation chance that ultimately proved to be the turning point of the match.“That’s what happens sometimes. In that moment, the mind doesn’t work properly and you end up playing such shots. But thankfully, luck was on my side and we eventually won the match.”Rinku added that the innings came at an important time personally.“I had played quite a few innings and was waiting for a big one. This was a very good innings for me and also very important for my confidence,” he said.With KKR struggling at various stages of the chase, Rinku emphasised clarity in approach and communication.“There’s nothing like 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’m 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 carry this momentum forward.”The win came after KKR endured repeated collapses earlier in the tournament, making this comeback even more significant.KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane called it an emotional breakthrough after a difficult start to the season, praising Rinku and the bowling unit for holding their nerve under pressure.For RR captain Riyan Parag, the match slipped away due to missed chances, including the dropped catch that gave Rinku his lifeline.“We can’t be dropping catches, that cost us the game,” Parag admitted, also pointing to execution issues in the death overs.
