IPL 2026: Rinku Singh's one over changed everything: Irfan Pathan on Rinku, Sunil Narine's bravado in KKR win

Kolkata Knight Riders secured a Super Over win against Lucknow Super Giants in their IPL 2026 encounter, with Rinku Singh’s late hitting and Sunil Narine’s control under pressure proving decisive in Lucknow. On the same day, Gujarat Titans recorded an eight-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings.

Speaking on JioHotstar’s ‘Google Search AI Mode Match Centre Live’ and Star Sports’ ‘Amul Cricket Live’, JioStar expert Irfan Pathan focused on how Rinku and Narine influenced the outcome, while Deep Dasgupta raised questions over Lucknow’s approach in the Super Over.

Also Read: KKR vs LSG IPL 2026: Super drama, super over and who won yesterday's match?


The KKR vs LSG match began with Kolkata Knight Riders batting first, and they scored 155 runs in their innings. Rinku Singh was the standout performer, making an unbeaten 83 off 51 balls. While defending the total, KKR restricted Lucknow Super Giants to 155 as well, taking the game into a Super Over, which they won comfortably.

With the victory secured, Rinku drew major attention as he became the first player in IPL history to score more than 80 runs and take four catches in the same match. He also joined a small group of players to score over 50 runs and take four catches in a single IPL game, alongside Jacques Kallis, Riyan Parag and Daryl Mitchell.

Irfan Pathan said the contest in Lucknow was shaped by challenging batting conditions. He pointed out that the surface offered bounce and movement, making it difficult for batters to play freely. He added that large totals have been hard to achieve at the venue this season and said the match followed a similar pattern.

“The quality of bowling was outstanding, and the pitch definitely had something in it, a bit of bounce and movement, which made batting challenging. We’ve seen that in Lucknow this season, posting big scores haven’t been easy. But the turning point was Rinku Singh’s counterattack against Digvesh Rathi. That one over where he scored 26 runs completely shifted the momentum. Even though KKR lost a few key moments, that phase changed the game, and from there, they found a way to stay in the contest and eventually come out on top.”

Also Read: Angkrish Raghuvanshi's run out frustration costs him a big penalty now

Sunil Narine’s calm makes the difference

Pathan pointed to Narine’s execution in the Super Over as a key moment, highlighting the dismissal of Nicholas Pooran and the bowler’s composure in a high-pressure situation.

“What stood out was the quality of the delivery that he bowled to dismiss Nicholas Pooran and the calmness with which Sunil Narine executed it. To do this consistently over the years, especially in pressure situations like a Super Over, is remarkable. He has faced challenges in his career, but he’s always found a way to come back stronger. You don’t often see teams turning to a spinner in moments like these, but Narine is an exception. His composure, even when others are appealing or under pressure, allows him to focus on the finer details, and once again, he delivered when it mattered most.”

Rinku Singh’s late assault shifts momentum

On Rinku’s batting, Pathan focused on the final over, saying the batter showed awareness and control to change the direction of the match.

“Rinku Singh’s awareness in that final over was outstanding. He anticipated the bowler’s plans, adjusted his position, and created scoring options on both sides of the wicket. Those four sixes completely changed the momentum. Without those 26 runs, KKR wouldn’t have won this game. What stood out even more was the responsibility he took. There was a moment when he chose to keep strike, backing himself to finish the over, and he delivered under pressure. That’s what sets him apart, the ability to read situations and take control when it matters most.”

LSG’s Super Over call questioned

Speaking separately, Deep Dasgupta said Lucknow’s choices in the Super Over raised concerns, particularly the decision to send Nicholas Pooran ahead of Mitchell Marsh.

Also Read: LSG's Langer defends sending out-of-form Nicholas Pooran call in Super Over vs Sunil Narine

He said Lucknow had two consecutive matches, against Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders, which they should have won. He said that while the pitch in Kolkata was not easy for batting, a target of 155 should have been within reach. He added that failing to chase such a total with that batting line-up would affect the morale of the dressing room.

Dasgupta said the team was already struggling for runs and made a significant error by sending Pooran to bat in the Super Over ahead of Marsh, who has been their leading run-scorer this season. He said Marsh, Himmat Singh and Aiden Markram would have been the ideal three batters for the Super Over, but instead an under-confident Pooran was sent out.

He added that in T20 cricket, losing close matches like these in succession can derail a team’s season, and said Lucknow must quickly address their batting order and decision-making or risk missing out on the playoffs.