Kolkata Knight Riders head coach Brendon McCullum showered praise on Rinku Singh after the left-hander played a match-winning knock against Rajasthan Royals at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. RR had posted 152 runs on the board and KKR was able to get over the line by seven wickets.
The required run rate was going up however Rinku Singh played a magnificent knock as he provided the finishing touches. Singh was able to hit the ground running as he scored a fine knock of 42 runs off just 23 balls with the help of six fours and one six.
On the other hand, Nitish Rana scored an unbeaten knock of 48 runs off just 37 balls to get his team over the line. Rana and Singh added a fine alliance of 66 runs for the fourth wicket.
McCullum added that Singh needed a make a statement and he was able to make it with his fine performance. Furthermore, the 24-year-old who plays for Uttar Pradesh in the domestic circuit, was brilliant in the field and took two fine catches.
Brendon McCullum said after the game, “Really pleased obviously (with the win). (Losing) Five games on the bounce, it’s not easy. I need to compliment all the guys for the way they played tonight. The guys have stuck together and been realistic. Tonight was a fantastic performance, from two guys who are very good friends (Rana and Rinku). The selection role is really important for me. A couple of guys have lost their form and confidence, there have been a few injuries, so we had to force a couple of changes. We wanted five bowlers and with the pitch on the slower side, Anukul (Roy) came in. We wanted Mavi on the team.”
He added, “He (Rinku) has been in the franchise for a long period of time. Lucky enough to spend some time with him. He needed to make a statement and he made it in the first game itself. Rana was out in the middle and that gave him (Rinku) a lot of confidence in his company. Anukul was brilliant, he has been around in the IPL for a long time. He is also similar to Rinku, who carries himself well and has a good future ahead of him. It (opening) is an area where we need to tidy up. We have been off in the powerplay compared to the other teams.”
Rinku Singh will look to continue his good show for KKR as the franchise is in a do-or-die situation. Singh was delighted after he got the Player of the Match award for his fine knock.
He said after the game, “A lot of players have played Ranji from Aligarh, but I am the first to play the IPL. This is a big league and there is a lot of pressure obviously. I have been waiting for the last five years to get a chance. I worked very hard, came back from injury and did well in the domestic circuit as well. When I was batting, Bhaiyya (Rana) and Baz (McCullum) told me to stay till the end and finish it.”
KKR will next face Lucknow Super Giants at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune on Saturday.
