Rinku Singh had a spectacular Indian Premier League 2023 season where he amassed 474 runs in 14 matches at an average of 59.25 and a strike rate of 149.53. It seemed a matter of time before he would get a maiden call-up to the Indian side in the shortest format of the game. However, he had to wait for his moment as he wasn’t picked in the squad for the five-match T20I series against the West Indies.
Rinku was eventually named in the India squad for the three-match T20I series against Ireland and the subsequent Asian Games. He was handed his maiden international cap ahead of the first T20I against Ireland on Friday, August 18 at the Malahide Cricket Club Ground in Dublin.
The diminutive batter played the role of a finisher to perfection during his IPL stint earlier this year and former Indian wicketkeeper Kiran More expects him to excel in that role for India as well. More mentioned the likes of MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh who performed the duties of a finisher to a nicety during their international careers and expected Rinku to play a similar role in the near future.
“I have been waiting for his opportunity in the Indian team. And that batting position, of No.5 and 6, he will perform well in that spot and can end up being a brilliant finisher. We all have seen MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh. After that, we haven’t got a player like them. We tried making such players, but it didn’t work so far. Tilak Varma is also there, he too can perform that role. Rinku is also a brilliant fielder. And I have seen him in domestic cricket as well, he has improved a lot I feel,” More said in a conversation with Jio Cinema.
Rinku Singh has to wait for his first T20I innings
Indian bowlers did well to restrict Ireland to 139/7 in 20 overs as Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna, who recovered from injuries, picked up two wickets each. Ravi Bishnoi also chipped in with a couple of wickets and was the most economical bowler for India.
In reply, the visitors lost Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tilak Varma off the bowling of Craig Young in the seventh over. Rain stopped play with the score at 47/2 in 6.5 overs with Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson remaining unbeaten. The match eventually ended with India winning by two runs as per the DLS method. Rinku didn’t get to bat but will be hopeful of getting his opportunity in the second T20I.