Veteran India off-spinner R Ashwin has applauded Rinku Singh, highlighting the veteran’s successful run in the finisher’s role for the
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The veteran even compared Rinku to MS Dhoni, one of the greatest finishers of the game as well. Ashwin also mentioned that the youngster will be high on confidence before IPL 2024, given that he has also done well at the international level as well.
However, Rinku Singh emerged as the silver lining in KKR’s poor campaign last year. The left-handed batter also finished as the highest
run-getter for his team in IPL 2023, scoring 474 runs from 14 outings at an average of 59.25 and a strike rate of 149.52.
While speaking about Rinku’s rise, R Ashwin said in his latest YouTube video: “First is Rinku Singh’s evolution as a player from the last IPL to this IPL. He was extraordinary, even last year. Adding to that this year is the confidence of having played for the Indian team. Right now, his mind is like, ‘II’ll stand here; you bowl however you want; we’ll get to the last ball to see who gets this’. He has become a left-handed version of Dhoni like how Ganga becomes Chandramukhi in Chandramukhi climax.”
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However, Rinku Singh made headlines with his stunning knock against Gujarat Titans (GT) last season. He hit five successive sixes off Yash Dayal’s over and chased down 28 runs off the final five balls and sealed the deal as well. R Ashwin also added that the return of captain Shreyas Iyer will be a big boost for the Kolkata-based franchise as well.
He added, “He can give you the hand-holding. He plays spin really well. Kolkata is a small ground in a way, but he positions and takes it forward. Also, bats well and can break the spinners. As a captain, he is a solid Indian batsman coming back into the side.”
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Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer underwent back surgery last year and was ruled out of the tournament and in his absence, Nitish Rana led KKR. They failed to qualify for the playoffs, finishing seventh in the points table as well. On the other hand, Australian left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc, whom KKR bought for a whopping ₹24.75 crore, is expected to do well.
“Kolkata has been a Holy Grail in the last; they needed a death bowler, so they went all out and got him. As far as I know, even though a lot of foreign players have been taken in auction for full price bonding, the players have not been able to provide the results and dividends accordingly. Mitchell Starc is one such player who can provide the dividends; he’s done it for RCB in the past. Andre Russell’s comeback with this new shape and force over the last eight months. The efforts he has put in, the results he is giving on the field, and him sending the right signals to the West Indies with the T20 World Cup—it’s definitely something to look forward to,” R Ashwin concluded.
