And so this is how things stand ahead of what should be a cracking final day in the league phase of IPL 2023 - three teams have got the 'Q' against their name while there's a three-way race for the last one. Mumbai Indians need to win over the Sunrisers Hyderabad in order to make it a realistic possibility before hoping that the Gujarat Titans then do them a favor by defeating the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Oh, amidst this all, the Rajasthan Royals will be peeking nervously as they hope that SRH and GT both manage to do them a favor with the latter also having to win by a certain margin to push RCB's net run-rate down. Not a lot, but it is still huge in the context of what is at stake. Who do you think will get that 'Q' at the end of it all? Do join us for a Super Sunday double-header right here on Sportskeeda while keeping yourselves updated with all the other cricketing news from around the world on this very platform. For the moment, this is the duo of Karthik Raj and Sooryanarayanan Sesha taking your leave. Thank you so much for tuning into our coverage of this contest which we hope you enjoyed just as much as we did bringing to you. See you tomorrow - take care and good night!

If not for Nicholas Pooran's blistering counter-attack, the Lucknow Super Giants would have been praying for results to fall in their favor on Sunday. But his knock - and it's worth mentioning Krishnappa Gowtham's cameo here as well - ensured that LSG had just enough to prevail at the end of it all. This means they will travel to Chennai to play the Eliminator on Wednesday (May 24) although it remains to be seen who their opponents will be. We do know what the top two looks like of course - Gujarat Titans will face Chennai Super Kings in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday (May 23).

Spare a moment for KKR though. What a season they've had! Yes, they haven't qualified but there were loopholes aplenty in their roster and they were compounded even further by the injury to regular skipper Shreyas Iyer. Nitish Rana showcased the qualities of a true leader, Suyash Sharma emerged as a great find, Varun Chakaravarthy regained his mojo and of course, there was Rinku Singh, who has written a story for the ages. So many positives for a team that has truly punched above its weight and can bow out of the tournament holding their heads high with lots to develop on for the next season.

Nicholas Pooran is the Player of the Match for his superb knock of 58 off 30 deliveries. Here's what he has to say: I knew I had to go as deep as possible. I knew when the spinners were bowling there will be some bad balls. It was important to capitalize but I just tried to go deep. I've been batting reasonably well throughout the tournament. When you're batting well you need to take advantage of it. I strive for moments like this. Happy to be here for the team at the end of the day. (Partnership with Ayush Badoni) Ayush and myself had a partnership against Chennai in Lucknow. I just told him we had to go as deep as possible. I felt we were a couple of balls short of 190 but I'll take that at the end of the day. Nice to win the last few games but what's important is that the team is up for the challenge. We have a young bowling attack.

Krunal Pandya (Lucknow Super Giants captain): First reaction is satisfaction. Just really happy the way we've played the last three games. The difference was we never gave up. We were put under a lot of pressure while bowling and batting and in this format, even one run can make a difference. Everything starts from belief. At one stage they were 61/1 but I felt if we can bowl 2-3 tight overs, those 2-3 overs can literally change the game. We got to know there was a lot of help for the spinners, there was enough grip. We had to bowl dot balls and let them take that high risk. Rinku has been special this year - every game when he's there you know you can't take it easy. Again he showed tonight as to why he's so special. It's a high-pressure situation when you're bowling the death overs. You just have to go out there and execute. I was just chatting with them to go one ball at a time and see. If they play a good shot it's fine but let's make sure we don't bowl a loose ball. (On Yash Thakur ahead of Mohsin Khan for the last over) I go with my gut - last game I felt that there was some reverse swing and I could go with Mohsin. Today the way Yash was bowling he was confident and bowled a good couple of overs as well. I just went with my gut and it paid off.

Ravi Bishnoi: Very good match. Feels very good to qualify. Was worried when Rinku was batting. He has been unbelievable throughout the season. Thought we had a good enough total on the board. We tried to bowl a lot of dot balls and make it challenging for the batters. The plan was to bowl wicket-to-wicket as that will be the most challenging on this surface. Going to the play-offs is the most important thing

Nitish Rana (Kolkata Knight Riders captain): End result was not in our favour but we had a lot of positives. There are a lot of areas to improve upon too and we hopefully we can do that before the next season. To make the Top 4 in the world's best league, you have to click in all three departments. Hopefully, can correct the mistakes next year and do better. Seems like I have spoken about Rinku in all the 14 games. Personally, I am very satisfied about HIS season. Know how much he has worked hard. There are now words to describe him. 

Match Summary: Lucknow Super Giants beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 1 run to qualify for the playoffs of IPL 2023.

Nicholas Pooran 58 (30) | Yash Thakur 2/31 (3)
Rinku Singh 67* (33) | Shardul Thakur 2/27 (2)

He might not have come out on the right side of today's result. His team might be out of the tournament. But years down the line, when one looks back on IPL 2023, they will remember the cult hero that has emerged in the form of Rinku Singh. Not just a cult hero in fact - an absolute superstar who carries immense self-belief, grit and determination to never back down. Remember the name!

There were so many equations up in the air after Nicholas Pooran's incredible half-century powered Lucknow Super Giants to a competitive 176 on a good batting surface. Kolkata Knight Riders had to chase it in 8.4 overs to usurp Rajasthan Royals on net run-rate. It was a far-fetched possibility even as Jason Roy and Venkatesh Iyer set out powering their way in the powerplay to put the bowlers under the pump. The Super Giants had to restrict KKR to 79 or under to go past Chennai Super Kings and break into the top two but the way things started with the ball, that flame was extinguished rather quickly.

There was still a game to be won and a playoff spot to be sealed though for LSG and after the powerplay didn't go their way despite prizing out Venkatesh's wicket, they resorted to a spin-stifle that slowed the scoring rate in a rather steady manner. There was enough grip in the surface which Ravi Bishnoi and Krishnappa Gowtham made full use of it courtesy some outstanding execution and once they sent Roy and Nitish Rana packing, the game had broken wide open. Thereafter, the bowlers took full control of the contest as Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who batted at number 4 for a change, failed to make an impact himself.

It came down to Andre Russell and Rinku Singh to pull it off but once Bishnoi castled the former and Shardul Thakur also departed, it was down to one last ridiculous Rinku finish. 41 runs were required off the last two overs but hey, is there anything that this man cannot do? Naveen-ul-Haq was completely off his radar in the 19th over but it still takes a lot of nerve and self-belief to make a match of it. Rinku did exactly that and took it into the final over with 21 runs required. That became 18 off 3 deliveries with Yash Thakur feeling the pressure as he speared a couple of wides. Two sixes and a boundary followed as somehow, by the barest of margins, LSG held on for dear life to deny Rinku and a boisterous Eden Gardens crowd. Oh what a game! Stick around for the presentations...

They win it by a solitary run again! It's another one-run victory for LSG against KKR and they break into the playoffs. Oh Rinku Singh, you little champion. Alas, it wasn't to be today but take nothing away from what has been yet another outrageous performance by the Baadshah from Aligarh! Lucknow Super Giants prevail by 1 run!

19.6 Yash Thakur to Rinku Singh, TIPPED OVER THE FENCE! SIX! Full-toss angling in, Rinku swings it to long-on where the fielder jumps but he only ends up parrying it over the fence for a maximum

That's more like it in terms of execution. Alas, it could be an anticlimax for Rinku Singh. Barring a no ball or a wide...

19.5 Yash Thakur to Rinku Singh, FOUR! Full and wide of off, Rinku gets down on his knee and drives it wide of long-off for a boundary. However, this won't be enough. KKR need 8 off 1 ball

THERE'S ONE! RINKU SINGH, WHAT ARE YOU MADE OF? Yash completely missed his execution there though and that's an absolute pie for a player of Rinku Singh's class. Krunal Pandya is in his bowler's ears again.

19.4 Yash Thakur to Rinku Singh, PUMPED! SIX! Full and angling into the stumps, Rinku thrashes it way over deep mid-wicket for a maximum. What is this man made of? Steel or sheer grit?

Oh that's exactly what Yash Thakur had to avoid! Nerves. Oh we can all feel it! 18 needed off 3...

19.4 Yash Thakur to Rinku Singh, full-toss outside the tramline, Rinku tries to reach out but he can't. WIDE called. 18 off 3 now

Three sixes to tie the game! A no ball or a wide is the last thing Yash Thakur has to bowl here. One good delivery and he'll get the job done.

19.3 Yash Thakur to Rinku Singh, low full-toss delivered wide of off, Rinku moves across and squeezes it to deep mid-wicket. No run taken