“ Rinku Singh’s Ability To Read Situations And Take Control When It Matters Most Sets Him Apart ” : Irfan Pathan
DC Vs RCB, TATA IPL 2026 Today Match Live Streaming on JioHotstar
Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Lucknow Super Giants in the Super Over in their TATA IPL 2026 match, while Gujarat Titans registered a crushing eight-wicket win against Chennai Super Kings. Speaking on JioHotstar’s ‘Google Search AI Mode Match Centre Live’ and Star Sports’ ‘Amul Cricket Live’, JioStar expert Irfan Pathan lauded Sunil Narine and Rinku Singh’s performances in Lucknow, while Deep Dasgupta opined on LSG’s decision to send Nicholas Pooran ahead in the Super Over.
Speaking on JioHotstar’s ‘Google Search AI Mode Match Centre Live’, JioStar expert Irfan Pathan explained how conditions shaped the low-scoring thriller between LSG and KKR:
“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.”
On Sunil Narine’s composure and consistency:
“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.”
On Rinku Singh’s performance:
“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.”
Speaking on Star Sports’ ‘Amul Cricket Live’, JioStar expert Deep Dasgupta questioned LSG’s decision to send Nicholas Pooran ahead of Mitchell Marsh in the Super Over:
“LSG had two back-to-back games, one against RR and one against KKR, where they should have won. I understand that against Kolkata, it wasn’t an easy pitch to bat on, but you would expect them to chase 155 comfortably. Not being able to chase with that kind of batting order is not good for the morale of their dressing room. You know quite well that your batters are unable to score runs and on top of that, you made a huge mistake of sending someone like Nicholas Pooran to bat in the Super Over ahead of Mitchell Marsh, who has been their top run-getter this season. Mitchell Marsh, Himmat Singh and Aiden Markram should have been the ideal three batters to play in the Super Over. Instead, they sent an under-confident Pooran. In T20 cricket, losing close games like these back-to-back can break a team’s season. LSG need to fix their batting order and decision-making quickly, or the Playoffs will slip away.”
On why RCB will have the edge over DC in today’s match:
“I think RCB have the edge ahead of their match against DC because DC are short on confidence, especially after the way they lost their last match against Punjab. Not being able to defend a score of 264 hurts your team’s morale. That said, when you score 260-plus, it shows you’re doing something right. It’s not like you’re playing bad cricket. But their bowling wasn’t up to the mark in that game, and their fielding was subpar as well. Delhi will need both these departments to perform if they want to beat Bengaluru. RCB are playing an incredible brand of cricket right now. Their bowling seems to be on point. The only thing that might worry them is the absence of Phil Salt at the top. But they have Jacob Bethell, who became a star in the T20 World Cup. Him forming a left-hand right-hand opening combination with Virat Kohli could work wonders for them against Delhi.”
Watch Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru in TATA IPL 2026 today, 7:30 PM onwards, LIVE on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network
