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'This Wasn’t a 230-Run Wicket,' Nitish Rana After Losing To SRH

image-lggxxojvRinku Singh with SRH captain Aiden Markram (Source: BCCI/IPL)

The Kolkata Knight Riders, despite their best efforts, fell 23 runs short of their task against the Sunrisers Hyderabad in match number 19 of the IPL 2023 season. Captain Nitish Rana played a blinder, and was assisted by IPL cult hero Rinku Singh in the run-chase.

However, lack of support from the other batters coupled with some tight death bowling from SRH led to KKR’s downfall in front of a packed home crowd at Eden Gardens.

Nitish Rana says bowlers did not bowl as per plan

Chasing a stiff 229, the KKR batting line-up slumped to 20-3 within the first four overs, thus paving way for captain Nitish Rana into the crease. The elegant left-hander also lost Narayan Jagadeesan and Andre Russell soon thereafter, before launching a 69-run counter-attacking stand with Rinku Singh.

Rana listed 75 from 41 balls while Rinku remained unbeaten till the end with 31-ball 58. After the match, the KKR skipper acknowledged that his bowlers conceded too many runs to the SRH batters upfront by not bowling according to the plan.

He also added that he was hoping for Rinku Singh to replicate his heroics from the previous game, where he blasted five sixes in the final over against Titans to win the game. However, Rana admitted that such blitzkriegs cannot happen everyday.

“Thanks for the compliments on the run chase. I feel the way we bowled was not according to the plans. No matter what the wicket was like, this wasn’t a 230 wicket. One odd day you’ll get an innings like Rinku had the other day, but not everyday. We batted really well, we wanted to take the game deep and then you never know.”

Despite a seemingly huge defeat, the skipper was intent with the fight his batters put up against a strong SRH bowling attack.

“Very happy with the fight we showed but would have loved it more if we got two points as well.”

The KKR, currently placed at number four on the points table, will now face the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on April 16.