"Hard Work At KKR Academy Paying Off", Says Batter Rinku Singh

Ahead of his side's Indian Premier League (IPL) match against Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders batter Rinku Singh said that his hard work at the team's Academy during the off-season camp is paying off, as it helped him improve his game, especially in death overs. KKR will take on Rajasthan Royals in their IPL 2023 match at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Thursday. "My hard work at the KKR academy is paying off. We had an off-season camp there and I've worked hard and improved a lot. I just play normal shots, and practice harder for death overs as per my batting position at the Academy," said Rinku in a pre-match press conference.

"I just try to keep it simple and play normal shots. I think if I try something extra it will affect my batting. It is about just playing according to the merit of the ball and I just back my shots," added the batter.

In 11 matches, Rinku has scored 337 runs at an average of 56.16 and a strike rate of 151.12. He has scored two half-centuries this season, with best score of 58*. Though he has been a reliable star for Uttar Pradesh in domestic cricket, hitting Gujarat Titans' pacer Yash Dayal for five successive sixes in the final over to chase down 205 pushed Rinku to cricketing stardom, just like IPL has done for numerous cricketers over the years. Amid all openers and top-order batters occupying the top 15 positions in the batting charts, he is the only middle-order batter.

He also revealed advice he got from the "world's best finisher" MS Dhoni about dealing with pressure while batting.

"He is the world's best finisher. I just asked 'Bhaiya' what else I could do while I'm going to bat. He just told me don't think much, just wait for the ball," said Rinku.

On his calm composure at the