‘Knock He Played Was Praiseworthy’: Ashish Nehra Lauds Rinku Singh Post His Batting Heroics

Former India speedster Ashish Nehra has lauded young batter Rinku Singh after he played a brilliant knock against Australia in Raipur. The left-hand batter collected 46 runs, helping India outplay Australia by 20 runs in the fourth T20I of the five-match series.

The Uttar Pradesh-based batter smashed 46 runs off 29 balls and also built a crucial partnership with wicket-keeper/batter Jitesh Sharma to help India post a fighting 174-run total in the first innings. Rinku also hit four boundaries and two sixes in Raipur.

While talking to Jio Cinema, Nehra said Rinku’s innings against Australia was outstanding. Rinku has now made 174 runs in five T20I innings for India with an amazing average of 87 while striking at 197.72.

“The most important thing was that he came in the ninth or tenth over today, he didn’t come in the 17th or 18th over. We have seen him many times after the 16th over or so but the sort of knock he played was praiseworthy and the team needed that. There was a time when it seemed they (India) could reach 190 as well but if you had lost Rinku Singh’s wicket at that stage, you might have been stopped at 160,” said Nehra.

“Don’t forget Rinku Singh has an average close to 50 even in the Ranji Trophy. He has been picked in the 50-over team as well, so the selectors would have seen something. It is a massive plus for the Indian team that you have selected him in the 50-over format and he got to bat early today and showed everyone that he can deliver in such a scenario as well,” Nehra added.

After their win in Raipur, the Men in Blue will be locking horns with Australia in the final game of the ongoing series at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday, December 3.