Rinku Singh Shines as KKR Secures First IPL Win of 2026

Rinku Singh finally decided to show up and what a party it was! In a nail-biter at Eden Gardens on April 19, the Kolkata Knight Riders clinched their first win of IPL 2026, defeating the Rajasthan Royals by four wickets with just two balls remaining. Chasing a target of 156 on a tricky surface, KKR found themselves in a mess, losing six wickets for a mere 85 runs in 14 overs. Enter Rinku Singh, who capitalised on a let-off when he was on just eight runs, going on to forge a stunning unbeaten partnership of 76 runs off just 37 balls.

With KKR needing nine runs in the last over, Rinku turned on the heat, smashing Brijesh for two fours and a six, sealing the deal for his team. His final score of 53 off 34 balls included five fours and two sixes, a crucial performance that earned him praise from former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan. Pathan also commended Anukul Roy for his top-class six off Jofra Archer, which shifted the momentum in KKR's favour.

Earlier, the Royals set the stage with an 81-run opening stand between Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal. However, KKR's spinners, led by Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine, turned things around, taking key wickets and restricting the Royals effectively. KKR's win not only lifts them off the bottom of the points table but also sets a positive tone for the rest of the season. Can they keep the momentum going? Only time will tell!