Throughout the 2023 IPL season, Rinku Singh has established himself as the shining star of the Kolkata Knight Riders even amidst the team’s inconsistent campaign. Sadly, the Knight Riders ended their season with a narrow one-point loss to Lucknow Super Giants in Kolkata on Saturday.
Rinku’s consistent performance and ability to handle pressure situations caught Flower’s attention, further enhancing his potential for future opportunities at international level. With his cool temper and hunger for success, Rinku Singh could definitely be seen as a promising candidate to represent India in the future.
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“Rinku played out of his skin again to bring them closer, didn’t he? We were in a really good place, but if they had won it from there, it would have been really amazing,” said Flower said in the post-match media. interaction.
The former England T20 World Cup and Ashes manager further said that Rinku has a ‘future’.
“He looks like a really talented guy physically. He also looks like he’s really hungry for success and at the same time humble and confident of what he can do – that’s a really good package.
“There’s so much batting talent in the country. He’s showing he can do it under pressure, that’s a key aspect of international cricket. I think he has a future,” added the 55-year-old. years.
Chasing 177, KKR was in dire straits with 136/7 after 18 overs, but Rinku came close to picking up another miraculous victory with his 33 67s not out but only missing by one in a last-ball thriller.
Rinku needed three sixes on the last three balls.
It was a similar situation to their dramatic win over Gujarat Titans earlier this season, when Rinku smashed five sixes in a row to pull off a heist.
But this time he hit two sixes while the other, in the penultimate ball, turned out to be a four as KKR lost by the narrowest of margins.
“He (Rinku) hit beautifully. It was a matter of not making a really obvious mistake in those last few overs.
“But Naveen (ul Haq) and Yash (Thakur) did a pretty tough job playing several times in a row to the death. But they got away with it in the end. Both have been brilliant this season.”
The Zimbabwean also praised Nicholas Poran and said he made all the difference with his batting 30 balls and 58 at No. 7.
“He (Pooran) was sensational for us. He made the difference. It was important to be there until death.
“He’s gaining clarity day by day. It was a wonderful mix of boundary shots and shot rotation in a great partnership with (Ayush) Badoni, the key to winning this game.”
Pooran’s time would return to WI
However, Pooran was unable to impress for the West Indies and resigned as captain of the white ball after their first-round exit in the T20 World Cup debacle last year.
After taking over the reins from Kieron Pollard in May 2022, Pooran has won just four of 15 ODIs and four of 15 T20Is.
But they hit the nadir at the T20 World Cup in Australia, when the two-time champions suffered shocking losses to Scotland and Ireland.
Flower, however, believed that Pooran’s time would return.
“He’s still a young man developing his game. I’m sure he’ll do amazing things for WI cricket. He’s a brilliant member of the team. I imagine he would come back as a leader at a later stage.
“He’s very talented physically, has worked hard on the swing of the bat, does a lot of boundary hitting drills. He’s put in some tough yards to get to where he is right now.
“I think the captaincy experience has been good for him. He is a big help for KL (Rahul) and now Krunal (Pandya) at the moment. Everyone in the dressing room loves him. He is developing well in all sorts of ways,” Flower signed off. disabled.
(With PTI inputs)
