Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag made an interesting comparison of Kolkata Knight Riders finisher Rinku Singh with former Indian skipper MS Dhoni and legendary Sachin Tendulkar as the opponents find it difficult to stop him at the fag end of the innings.
Rinku Singh has been a standout performer in this edition of IPL 2023, playing two match-winning knocks for the two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders against Royal Challengers Bangalore and Gujarat Titans. The 25-year-old played an unbeaten knock of 58 runs off 31 balls but ended up on the losing side against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Sehwag lauded Rinku Singh for his exceptional composure at the end of the innings to finish off the innings for Kolkata Knight Riders. The former Indian opener compared him with MS Dhoni in terms of finishing skills.
“There is a belief in the KKR team that Rinku Singh is still there. When MS Dhoni started finishing off games, there was a belief that Dhoni is still there. In the 90s, it was if Tendulkar is their match can be won, if not then no. Now the same thing is with KKR and Rinku Singh. Before it was Andre Russell for them,” Virender Sehwag said.
Rinku Singh has scored 156 runs in four games, with a whopping strike rate of 175.28. So far, for the two-time champions, he produced arguably the greatest finish in the history of the cash-rich league, with a blazing last-ball finish over Gujarat Titans.
Rinku Singh Will Never Be Able To Do This Again – Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag hailed Rinku Singh as he played an inning of his life–and reckons that his record cannot be broken very soon. The 25-year-old broke several records as this was the highest target successfully achieved in a final over of an IPL match.
“This has never happened in the history of cricket and Rinku Singh will never be able to do this again. This record that has happened might be broken, but Rinku will never in his life be able to hit 6 sixes and break that record, You also need a bit of luck”.
At one stage, Rinku was struggling at 8 runs off 14 balls. Sehwag said Rinku Singh had a bit of luck facing Yash Dayal in the final over.
“If it was Alzarri Joseph bowling even Rinku would have known that he wouldn’t be able to hit him. But he has faced Yash Dayal all his life in the nets. So Rinku had the right mindset,” Virender Sehwag added.
Rinku Singh hammered Yash Dayal to all parts of the ground, but the Gujarat Titans pacer failed to execute his plan. The pacer tumbled under pressure as he bowled three full tosses in the last over in a bid to nail a yorker.