"Rinku Singh Has Been A Tremendous Story," Says Kolkata Knight Riders Assistant Coach

22.08.2023 - 18:03 sports.ndtv.com

Having closely tracked the journey of a ‘shy' young boy with ‘low self confidence' evolve into a promising player for India, Abhishek Nayar describes Rinku Singh's story as one of hard work and perseverance.

The 25-year-old shot himself into national reckoning ever since he smacked five consecutive sixes to power Kolkata Knight Riders to a shocking win over Gujarat Titans in the IPL this year.

On Sunday, he showed he can replicate that at the highest level with a 21-ball 38 against Ireland on his India debut. “I have seen Rinku evolve as an individual.

The first time I saw him in the KKR set up, and spent time with him when he came to Mumbai, he was very shy and a guy with very low self belief,” KKR assistant coach Nayar recalled on Tuesday. “Overall, Rinku Singh has been a tremendous story — a rags to riches sort of story — but with a lot of hard work and perseverance,” he replied to a PTI query during a chat organised by Jio Cinema. “But one thing which has been a standout for Rinku is the fact that he is always has this ability to work hard, listen and learn — he has always been hungry to learn.” Describing Rinku's personality further, Nayar said, “He is an unbelievable guy to have in the dressing room and in general, he is happy, always smiling, and happy for others' performances. “He is someone with whom you can share your performances (with).

cricket India Cricket Team Kolkata Knight Riders Ireland Cricket Team 2023 Rinku Singh Ireland India

India became part of an elite space club on Wednesday when its moon mission Chandrayaan-3 met success as the Vikram Lander successfully landed on the lunar surface. India has now become the first nation to land near the South Pole on moon, which has been a place of intrigue since traces of water was found on moon. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) celebrated the occasion with a post on X (formerly Twitter) at 6.04pm - the exact time when Vikram lander touched down at the Moon's South Pole. In the post, ISRO congratulated the people of the country for the success of the mission.

"Those Five Sixes Changed My Life": Rinku Singh Relives His Iconic Innings For KKR

He has played just a couple of international matches so far but Rinku Singh is already a popular name among Indian fans thanks to his five successive sixes in IPL 2023. Playing for Kolkata Knight Riders, he smashed five sixes in the final over against Gujarat Titans to steer his side to a sensational win. Recalling the same, Rinku said that moment changed his life forever. "Those five sixes changed my life. People remember me for that moment. I was feeling great when they took my name and the love they have been showering me with," he said during an interaction with his Indian teammate Ravi Bishnoi on BCCI.tv.

Watch: "Saari Baatein Sunta Hai Captain Ki?" - Jasprit Bumrah's Hilarious Interaction With Rinku Singh Viral

It was a memorable game for Rinku Singh on Sunday as he batted for the first time for the Indian cricket team. The southpaw made his debut in the rain-hit first T20I against Ireland but he got a chance to bat only in the second game. The hard-hitting batter played a vital knock of 21-ball 38 runs in Dublin. Rinku's cameo gave India's innings a much-needed spark, and his 28-ball 55-run stand with Shivam Dube (22 not out) helped India end with a flourish.

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Watch: Rinku Singh Makes Batting Debut In Style, Slams 3 Huge Sixes vs Ireland

Team India emerged victorious by 33 runs in the second T20I against Ireland on Sunday. The Jasprit Bumrah-led team displayed a dominant approach to gain an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Opting to bat first, the visitors posted a total of 185/5 in 20 overs with Ruturaj Gaikwad top-scoring with 58 runs. Later, Ireland were restricted at 152/8 despite Andrew Balbirnie scoring 72 runs. This game turned out to be really special for batter Rinku Singh as he bagged away the Player of the Match award in his maiden batting stint.