Rinku Singh has enhanced his standing by adopting a role reminiscent of MS Dhoni for India. Ashish Nehra isn’t particularly fond of the term ‘finisher.’
Rinku Singh is emulating MS Dhoni’s approach to bolster his case in the dynamic T20I series between India and Australia. The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) standout delivered two pivotal cameos, earning acclaim from the cricket community. In the third T20I, with Ruturaj Gaikwad leading the charge, Rinku’s services were unnecessary as India secured a substantial total with only three wickets down at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium. Despite this, Australia salvaged the series with Glenn Maxwell’s century on Tuesday.
Ahead of the 3rd T20I in Guwahati between India and Australia, ex-Indian pacer Ashish Nehra extensively discussed Rinku’s role as a finisher for Suryakumar and the team in the white-ball series, praising him as a valuable asset to Indian cricket. After India’s victory in the 2nd T20I, skipper Suryakumar notably remarked that Rinku’s batting prowess evokes memories of the legendary cricketer Dhoni.
Engaged in discussions about his role, Nehra, despite his reservations about the term ‘finisher,’ believes a player like Rinku has the potential to bat higher up the order for India in limited-overs cricket. Nehra expressed, “This is not the first time he has done it. We have been deliberating on his role and power. It’s not just about his batting; even the way he throws himself on the field shows he’s a great team player. He will be a valuable asset to Indian cricket. While we are currently discussing T20 cricket, who knows, tomorrow he might also be playing ODI cricket,” as shared with JioCinema.
Concluding in style, Rinku launched a six off Sean Abbott on the final ball of the 1st T20I, though it was declared a no-ball. Rinku attributed his composure in challenging moments to Dhoni. The Uttar Pradesh batsman hammered 31 off 9 balls as India convincingly defeated Australia by 44 runs in the 2nd T20I in Thiruvananthapuram.
Regarding Rinku’s versatility, Nehra remarked, “I am not a big fan of the word ‘finisher.’ Your opener can be a finisher; if he scores a hundred, he can finish the game and come back. At times, it can be harsh. Let me give you an example: if the same Rinku Singh doesn’t finish the game once or twice. Coming back to Rinku Singh, he is someone who can even play up the order. I can see him featuring in 50-over cricket going forward. He can bat at No. 4, No. 5, or No. 6,” as explained by Nehra.
With just four appearances in 8 T20Is, Rinku has showcased his prowess as a middle-order batsman, amassing 128 runs at a remarkable strike rate of 216.94 and being dismissed only once. Impressively, he has remained unbeaten in his last three innings. Reflecting on Rinku’s potential, the former Indian pacer commented, “On any given day, the Indian team might be 40 for 4 in 5-6 overs. I hope Rinku Singh is prepared to play any role; I hope he avoids labeling himself as just a finisher. His aim should be to excel in all facets of the game,” emphasized the former India pacer.
