IPL 2023: Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Match 13 - Talking Points and Who Said What?

Gujarat Titans hosted Kolkata Knight Riders in the 13th clash of the ongoing Indian Premier League at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Kolkata put on an exemplary show to defeat Titans on the last ball, courtesy of a historic six-hitting spree by Rinku Singh. This is Kolkata's second consecutive victory after having sustained a loss in their first match of the tournament, as they last defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore. On the other hand, for Gujarat Titans, this was the first loss of the tournament and they would soon look to buck up and come back stronger.

From a hattrick to an impeccable last-over finish, the match saw it all. After putting up a mammoth target in the first innings, Gujarat looked strong in the second innings as well after the KKR batting lineup was rattled by Rashid Khan who was leading Gujarat in Hardik Pandya's absence. Despite Venkatesh Iyer's fiery knock, Kolkata brought themselves back into the game with Rashid's clinical display. However, it was Rinku Singh who inscribed his name in the glorious history books of the tournament by smashing five consecutive sixes off Yash Dayal in the last over to get past the required target and take the visitors home with just three wickets to spare.

Let's look at the Talking Points from the game-

Venkatesh Iyer's resurgence after a long hiatus

Venkatesh Iyer, who had entered the tournament as an unknown commodity, had a remarkable stint with the Kolkata Knight Riders in his first IPL season itself, where he was used by the team as a handy batting all-rounder. Courtesy of his mesmerising performance, he was even fast-tracked to the Indian team ahead of the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE. However, Iyer had slowly fallen into oblivion following a series of insignificant performances. But, the 28-year-old has again managed to gain a footing in the KKR setup and took a great leap today with his classic innings of 83, scored in just 40 deliveries at a strike rate of 207.50. Although KKR hasn't shown trust in him with the ball yet, there's no denying that the team is going to back him for his batting prowess.

Sai Sudharshan grooming himself into a big-game player for Gujarat

Gujarat Titans' Sai Sudharshan, who came to the forefront in Gujarat's debut year in 2022, has been clinical with the bat. The 21-year-old has time and again provided support to the Gujarat middle order, saving it from falling apart. Today wasn't any different either. After losing Wriddhiman Saha early, it was he who stitched a crucial partnership with Shubman Gill to provide a base for the lower-order batters to build on. He scored a steady 53 off 38 deliveries.

Rashid Khan breathing fire with the ball

Gujarat's stand-in captain Rashid Khan had a phenomenal session with the ball as he ran through the KKR batting unit to reduce them from 153/3 to 155/7. The spinner grabbed a hattrick to Andre Russell, Sunil Narine and Shardul Thakur on the trot. Rashid Khan thus continues to be one of the most trusted lieutenants for Gujarat with the ball.

Rinku Singh's history-scripting knock

Rinku Singh, who was coming in after a great domestic session, managed to announce himself as a big-time player after creating history with the bat in the final over. He took Yash Dayal to the flyers for five consecutive sixes in the last over, to go past KKR's required target of 205. Never in the history of the tournament had 28 runs been chased down in the final over. With this, Rinku has made it operatively unthinkable for KKR to craft a playing XI without including him. 

Losing captain Rashid Khan said

It's a tough game for us, especially for me as a captain. You need 30 plus in the last over, the same thing happened for us last year when we won. We will learn from it, more importantly a good game of cricket and the fans would have loved it. It was more about what he is most comfortable with, to trust his plans [on Yash Dayal's plans]. Rinku played unbelievable shots and credit goes to him for the way he played and for the way he finished. Keep it simple, hit the right area consistently and that's what T20 is all about. As a bowler I'm always trying to hit the right area. We got what we wanted. We wanted 190 and we got 200. As a bowling unit we got enough to defend, but sometimes in T20 even 250 does not look good. Take positives from this, it's still early in the competition and learn from it. Definitely not [on if this defeat will hurt morale]. Chin up and keep smiling and we come back stronger and stronger. It's good and something new is happening in T20, it makes you mature and I feel it's very good for the game of cricket [on the new rules]. For my future it's great, leading the team in IPL gives you lots of knowledge for the future. Good learning for me as a player and as a captain.

Winning captain Nitish Rana said

We had a little belief. 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. 

Player of the Match Rinku Singh said

Had the belief that I can do it. Last year I was in a similar situation in Lucknow. Had the belief back then too. Didn't think too much out there. Those shots just happened one after the other. That last one was back of the hand, and I struck it off the back foot.