Rinku Singh, an explosive southpaw for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), may have received his greatest compliment when Indian film superstar Rajinikanth called him up following his impressive IPL 2023 performances.
It is no secret that Rinku has been the discoverer of the 16th edition, courtesy of his scintillating batting exploits. During a high-pressure match against the Gujarat Titans, the 25-year-old batsman demonstrated steely nerves by smashing five consecutive sixes to help KKR win.
Similarly, the southpaw played yet another pivotal knock against the Punjab Kings on May 8, proving his mettle when the match came down to the wire as he won the contest with a boundary off the last ball in the thrilling affair.
Megastar Rajinikanth, who has garnered numerous headlines for his stellar performances in the Premier League, reportedly called the KKR batter and offered words of encouragement. In his stupendous campaign in the 2023 season, Rinku has collected 337 runs in 11 appearances at an outstanding average of 56.17.
KKR is seeking a postseason entry.
With 10 points after 11 games, the Nitish Rana-led KKR team is sixth on the IPL Points Table. The side will lock antlers with Sanju Samson’s Rajasthan Royals at the iconic Eden Gardens on Thursday, May 11.
KKR have a slight edge over Rajasthan based on their head-to-head records in the last five matches, having won three times to Rajasthan’s two. In their upcoming match, the Royals will attempt to avoid a fourth consecutive loss, while Nitish and Co. will seek to maintain their momentum.
In addition, KKR will attempt to secure two points against the Royals, as this would help them ascend to third place on the table. With the bitter end of the season approaching, the two-time winners will need to win the remainder of their group fixtures so as to cement their spot in the playoffs.