Star Indian batter scored an incredible 83 runs off 51 balls for the Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday. In the encounter against the Lucknow Super Giants at Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, the left-handed batter came out to bat at No. 6 and hit seven fours and five sixes during his time at the crease.
Together with Sunil Narine (4 runs from 6 balls), he scored 62 runs from just 30 balls for the eighth wicket, bringing KKR’s total to 155/7 in 20 overs. Rinku broke MS Dhoni’s record for the highest score by an Indian batter at No. 6 in the opening innings of an IPL match on Sunday with 83 runs.
In the Chennai Super Kings’ IPL 2011 match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at M Chinnaswamy Stadium on May 22, Dhoni scored an undefeated 70 runs off 40 balls while batting at number six.
Highest Score By An Indian Batter At No. 6 or Lower In 1st Innings of IPL Match
Rinku Singh: 83* vs LSG (2026)
MS Dhoni: 70* vs RCB (2011)
Dinesh Karthik: 69 vs RR (2010)
Shardul Thakur: 68 vs RCB (2023)
In the opening innings of an IPL game, only one batter who batted at No. 6 or lower has scored more runs than Rinku. Andre Russell has this achievement to his name. Russell scored an undefeated 88 runs off 36 balls while representing KKR in their IPL 2018 encounter against Chennai Super Kings on April 10, 2018, at MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Highest Score In 1st Innings of IPL Match By No. 6 or Lower Batter
Andre Russell: 88* vs CSK (2018)
Rinku Singh: 83* vs LSG (2026)
MS Dhoni: 70* vs RCB (2011)
Ryan ten Doeschate: 70* vs MI (2011)
Kieron Pollard: 70 vs RR (2015)
Hardik Pandya holds the record for most runs scored in an IPL match while batting at No. 6 or lower. In the Mumbai Indians’ 2019 IPL match against the Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on April 28, Pandya amassed 91 runs off just 34 balls.
Rinku’s total of 83 runs against LSG on Sunday is also his highest in IPL history. On May 20, 2023, he scored his previous best IPL score of 67 (not out) against the Lucknow Super Giants at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
KKR Beat LSG In Super Over
Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Lucknow Super Giants in a Super Over. LSG experienced a batting crumble down while chasing a meek 156, but they were still able to level the match and advance to the Super Over thanks to a last-ball six from Mohammed Shami against Kartik Tyagi, who gave up 16 runs in the last over. However, Sunil Narine bowled a magnificent Super Over, giving KKR an easy 2-run target. He only gave away one run and picked up two wickets.
After that, Rinku Singh completed the chase with a boundary off the first ball against Prince Yadav. Rinku’s incredible 83 not out from 51 balls, including four consecutive sixes in the last over, and propelled the KKR to 155/7 after they were in serious trouble earlier with 93/7 in 15 overs. With Mohsin taking his first fifer, KKR experienced a classic batting meltdown, with Cameron Green (34) the only other hitter to score in double figures. In response, LSG lost for the fifth time in a row after continuing their terrible batting performance.