Rinku Singh. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)
Kolkata Knight Riders middle-order batter Rinku Singh has played some phenomenal cricket in the ongoing IPL 2023, scoring 474 runs in 14 matches. He finished the season as the leading run-scorer of the Nitish Rana-led side, and with that, many former India cricketers in the form of Harbhajan Singh and Ravi Shastri have already vouched for his inclusion in the Indian side.
Former Australia international Tom Moody believes that Rinku is ready for a national call-up. Lauding the Aligarh-born cricketer, Moody stated that the cricketer is extremely calm under pressure and has the right temperament to finish games on his own terms. The 57-year-old further added that the Rohit Sharma-led side can even consider him for the upcoming ODI World Cup.
“We definitely know now that he’s the finisher India should consider going forward into World Cups. He’s shown enormous temperament, skill and consistency with the bat. Without a doubt, because he’s got the game, he’s got a strong foundation to his name. He averages nearly 60 in first-class cricket. He hasn’t just sort of been plucked out of nowhere as a really good ball striker without any pedigree. One of the most impressive things is his temperament, and the best finishers generally have really calculated minds but also very calm minds under pressure, and he seems to have that,” Moody said on ESPNcricinfo.
The former cricketer also believes that Rinku Singh has the temperament of the likes of Michael Bevan and Michael Hussey. Comparing Rinku with these two legends, Moody added that the 25-year-old knows the art of finishing games in a very composed manner.
“Look, I don’t know him personally, I’ve never worked with him, but just as an observer and a fan, I look at it and think this guy’s composed. He’s in control. And I’ve seen that before in players historically like Michael Bevan, who I’ve played quite a bit of cricket with. In 50-over cricket, he had that trait of just you’re thinking the games getting away from him, but he’s got it absolutely under control. Mike Hussey of more recent than Michael Bevan. They seem to just understand how to finish a game in a very calm and composed way,” he added.