India batter Rinku Singh hailed the influence of former skipper MS Dhoni in his ability to remain calm under pressure during India’s thrilling two-wicket victory over Australia in the first T20I of the five-match series. The nail-biting contest at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Vizag on Thursday, November 23, saw India emerge victorious, just days after their heartbreaking loss in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 final.
Rinku played a pivotal role in India’s chase, contributing a crucial 22 runs off 14 deliveries, including four boundaries. With India needing one run to win, Rinku stepped up to hit a six off the final delivery, only for the match to take an anti-climactic turn as Sean Abbott bowled a no-ball, which counted as the winning run. Reflecting on his performance, Rinku attributed his composure under pressure to the guidance of MS Dhoni.
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“It’s a good thing that our team won the match. It was the perfect situation for me when I went in to bat. I was feeling good playing alongside Surya bhai (Suryakumar Yadav). I was just thinking about what I’ve done in the past chasing such scores, and focused on staying as calm as I could and take the game to the final over,” Rinku Singh told BCCI.
The MSD touch 🧊 behind Rinku Singh’s ice cool finish 💥
Do not miss the 𝙍𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙪 𝙍𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙥 that includes a perfect GIF describing #TeamIndia‘s win 😉
WATCH 🎥🔽 – By @28anand | #INDvAUShttps://t.co/MbyHYkiCco
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 24, 2023
Rinku Singh further revealed that he had sought advice from Dhoni, who emphasized the importance of maintaining composure in the final overs. “I had a talk with Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni) about what he does in the final few overs. He told me that it’s important to stay calm and look to hit straight. That’s what I follow. I try to stay calm, and hit my shots with low reaction,” Rinku added.
Rinku’s breakout season in the IPL in 2023, where he amassed 474 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 149.53, has undoubtedly boosted his confidence. With his ability to remain calm under pressure, Rinku has emerged as a promising prospect for the Indian team.
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India will now look to capitalize on their momentum in the second T20I against Australia, scheduled for Sunday, November 26, at the Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.
