Former Indian fast bowler Ashish Nehra admitted it is difficult to choose one standout performer from the five-match T20I series against Australia but still picked Rinku Singh for his fine performances. The left-hander scored 14-ball 22 to get India over the line in the run-chase of 209 runs in the series’ opening game against Australia.
The southpaw scored another brilliant knock of 9-ball 31 in the second T20I against Australia to add the finishing touches and helped India post 235 runs on the board.
After not getting to bat in the third T20I, the Uttar Pradesh batter scored a blistering knock of 46 runs off 29 balls in the fourth game to help India post 174 runs, which proved to be enough.
Singh has scored 174 runs in five T20I innings at a blistering strike rate of 197.73 and he has shown the skills to take up the finisher role for the national team. But he was dismissed after scoring six runs in the final game of the series.
Speaking on JioCinema, Ashish Nehra said, “Everyone. It’s difficult to choose one, but still Rinku Singh, because of the sort of knocks he has played, especially in the last (fourth) match. Rinku Singh is generally known for achieving the target when the team needs 50-60 runs after the 15th or 16th over.”
“Here he had to play a different role and he showed that by doing it. You might talk as much as you want about the circumstances being easy, or the pitch being flat, but even that wasn’t the case there.”
Singh has also received a maiden ODI call-up for the three-match series against South Africa.
“Wickets kept falling from the other end but he still held one end up and played strokes when it was required. There must be some reason for him being selected for the 50-over format.”
On the other hand, Indian leg-spinner Amit Mishra hailed Rinku Singh as he kept playing his shots despite the pressure of losing wickets at the other end.
“Absolutely, when he came to bat, wickets were falling. It was the first time he got to bat in the ninth over. He needed to stitch a partnership there. There was pressure but he still played his shots. He converted the loose balls into fours or sixes. He has matured very quickly but has worked a lot to get there.”
Meanwhile, Singh had done a fine job while playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. The left-hander has scored 725 runs in 31 IPL matches at an average of 36.25 and a strike rate of 142.16.
