Rinku Singh did a Rinku Singh in Kanpur. Days after starring for India in his debut T20I series in Ireland, the Kolkata Knight Riders star reminded fans of his heroic knock from IPL 2023 as he hit 3 sixes under pressure to seal a victory for his team in the inaugural edition of Uttar Pradesh T20 League at the Green Park in Kanpur.
Rinku Singh, playing for Meerut in the T20 league, was in the middle when his team needed 17 runs in the Super Over against Kashi Rudras. Rinku was up against left-arm spinner Shiva Singh and he played a dot ball to start the Super Over after Kashi had posted 16 for 1. The pressure was on Meerut Mavericks but Rinku stayed calm and composed in the middle.
Rinku Singh showcased his finishing skills once again as he hit sixes off three different balls from the left-arm spinner. Shiva Singh bowled the first one full and wide but Rinku was up to the task, hitting it over the long-off boundary.
The next delivery was a juicy full-toss and Rinku Singh did not hesitate to hit it into the deep mid-wicket stands. With 4 needed off the last 3 deliveries, Shiva Singh went for the wide delivery once again and Rinku deposited it over the cover boundary to seal a sensational victory.
Rinku Singh’s Super Over onslaught was quite similar to his sensational knock against Gujarat Titans in IPL 2023. Rinku Singh hit left-arm pacer Yash Dayal for 5 successive sixes in the last 5 deliveries of the final over when KKR needed 29 runs at the start of the over. It was the knock that propelled Rinku’s stardom to the globe as he carried on playing the finisher’s role to perfection for the Knight Riders in IPL.
Rinku Singh’s show came after both teams finished with 181 on the board.
Rinku made his T20I debut for India in Ireland on August 18, 2023. His performance was met with widespread acclaim as he scored a crucial 38 runs in the second T20I, helping India clinch the series. This debut followed his impressive performances in the IPL which warranted him a place in the India men’s squad for Asian Games.
In IPL 2023, Rinku showcased his batting prowess by amassing 474 runs in 14 matches, with an impressive average of 59.25 and a strike rate of 149.53. His highest score in the tournament was 67. Notably, Rinku excelled in run-chases, scoring 305 runs at an average of 152.50 and a strike rate of 174.28 in such situations.
