GT vs KKR, 13th Match at Ahmedabad, IPL, Apr 09 2023 - Match Result

7:48pm Okay, that will be a wrap from us for this game, and what a game it was. Arguably one of the best the IPL has seen all these years, and we hope you enjoyed our coverage just as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. The action, though, does not stop. SRH have gotten off to an excellent start against PBKS in the evening game. Do hop over to our coverage for that game too. Until next time, this is me (Shashwat) signing off on behalf of Ranjith, Thilak and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo! Goodbye and take care!

Rinku Singh, Player of the Match: I had belief that I can do this. Rana bhai said to keep belief and to bat till the end, then we will see what happens. (On the single) I was just trying to hit sixes. (Umesh) Bhaiya was asking me not to think much and just play the ball. I was not thinking a lot, was just reacting to the ball. It kept coming out of the middle, I had belief and it came off in the end.

Nitish Rana, Kolkata Knight Riders captain: We had belief because Rinku had done something similar last year, although we did not win. After the second six, we started to believe more because Yash Dayal was also not executing well. You win one out of a hundred matches this way. We were bowling well for 18 overs but did not bowl well towards the end. Same in the batting department where we allowed Rashid and GT back into the game. This result, though, is only down to Rinku and his brilliance. People asked me why Rinku does not play a bigger role. If this is his secondary role, then imagine what he can do in a primary role. I do not have words to describe Rinku's innings.

Venkatesh Iyer: It was a nail-biting finish and extremely happy with the way we won. Our coach has maintained that we can score 200 from any position. Tonight was another example that we will never give up as a team. The wicket was quite good to bat and I was just trying to execute my plans. When the target is 200, you cannot have silent overs. Me and Nitish had a nice partnership and that set the tone. We lost wickets then but thankfully Lord Rinku saved the day. He is a world-class bowler. We still felt we could win the game, though, and that we could chase anything. This teaches us a lesson that we should not give up until the last ball. It will be a great morale-boost for us. Winning is something we want to create a habit of. The first game, we were a little unlucky. I am really not surprised that we have scored 200 in these last two games because of the role clarity that has been given to us. I have not been in great form but tonight, I just wanted to go out there and execute my plan of playing late. When the bounce is good, you tend to hang back and use the pace. Their bowlers were quick so I tried to use their pace and it worked to my advantage.

Rashid Khan, Gujarat Titans captain: A tough game for us, especially as a captain. That is what T20 is all about, it is about entertainment. Same things happened with us last year when we were on the winning side. A good game of cricket and hopefully the fans would have liked it. (Message in the final over) It was more about bowling the ball that he was comfortable with. Rinku played some unbelievable shots. He tried his best deliveries but it did not work. Credit goes to the batter the way he finished. (On his hat-trick) Just keep it simple. Hit the right area consistently. If you miss your lengths, you saw what happened. As a bowler, I am always trying my best to hit the right areas. (On the score and if he is happy with how they played) We got what we wanted. We wanted 190-plus and we got more than 200. We had enough runs to defend but in T20s, sometimes, 250 is not enough to defend. Lots of things for us to learn and we have to take positives out of this game and come back stronger. Chin up, keep smiling and it was a bad day for us as a bowling unit. Next game, we try our best to come back stronger. (On the new Impact Player rule) It is good, something new happening in the format. It makes you mature and I feel it is very good for the game of cricket.

7:22pm Phew, let me catch my breath. That game ebbed, flowed and it seemed that Gujarat would win it, until....Rinku had other ideas. He had 28 to get off the final five balls and hit five massive sixes, spread across the ground and with the sort of conviction expected from a seasoned international cricketer. That it came after a Rashid hat-trick, which threatened to tilt the game on its head, only makes it even more special, especially if you are a KKR fun.

Gujarat would be gutted with how the last few balls panned out. Dayal bowled three full tosses, two drag-downs and was punished. It has taken the sheen off what was otherwise another brilliant Joseph display, and an equally special Vijay Shankar batting performance but tonight belongs to Rinku Singh and KKR.

Giri: "This is best match of the season so far" -- Super Over anyone?

10 off 2. Two more sixes, and KKR are home

28 off 5 now. Four sixes and a boundary will do it for KKR

Dayal to bowl the final over. KKR need 29 off 6 balls

39 off 9 now. Rinku needs three boundaries in the three balls that remain

Little to bowl the penultimate over

Kamal : "Rashid rarely goes for 35 in three overs and when he does go, he comes back and picks up a hat trick for you! What a champion! "

48 needed off 18 now, and almost all of KKR's hopes are now pinned on Rinku. Shami to bowl out