In 14 games during the 2023 Indian Premier League season, Rinku Singh scored 474 runs with an astounding strike rate of 149.53 and an average of 59.25. In the shortest format of the game, it only seemed a matter of time until he would receive his first call-up to the Indian side. He had to wait for his opportunity, though, as he was not selected for the team for the five-match T20I series against the West Indies. Rinku Singh was eventually selected for the Indian team to play in the Asian Games after the three-match T20I series against Ireland.
On Friday, August 18, at the Malahide Cricket Club Ground in Dublin, he received his first international cap ahead of the opening T20I match against Ireland.
Kiran More, a former Indian wicketkeeper, anticipates the tiny hitter to perform superbly in that role for India as he did during his IPL tenure earlier this year. More referred to players like MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh who expertly fulfilled finishing tasks during their international careers and predicted Rinku will take on a position akin to these in the near future.
“I’ve been waiting for him to get a chance with the Indian squad. He will perform well in that batting position, between Nos. 5 and 6, and he has the potential to develop into a fantastic finisher. MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh are well known to us all. We don’t have another player like them after that. We tried creating such players, but thus far it hasn’t been successful. There is also Tilak Varma, who is capable of filling such function. In the field, Rinku excels as well. More stated in a discussion with Jio Cinema, “And I have seen him in domestic cricket as well. He has progressed a lot I feel.
For his maiden T20I inning, Rinku Singh must wait.
Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna, who both recovered from injury, each took two wickets as Indian bowlers made a commendable job of limiting Ireland to 139/7 in 20 overs. The most effective bowler for India was Ravi Bishnoi, who also contributed with a few wickets.
Craig Young’s bowling in the seventh over caused the visitors to lose Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tilak Varma in response. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson were still unbeaten when play was suspended due to rain with the score at 47/2 after 6.5 overs. In the end, India prevailed by the DLS method by a score of two runs. Although Rinku was not given the chance to bat, he is optimistic that he will in the following game.
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