Former India opener turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has stated that the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have finally shown faith in the middle-order batsman Rinku Singh, who smashed a match-winning knock against the Rajasthan Royals (RR). While chasing a 153-run target against Rajasthan on Monday (2 May), Rinku smashed an unbeaten 42 off 23 balls as the two-time IPL champions won the match by seven wickets with five balls in hand as well.
While reviewing the KKR-RR game in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said: “Rinku Singh did an amazing job. He didn’t used to get opportunities, very few chances. Even when he used to score runs, he was being sent in at No. 8 or No. 9. It was beyond understanding, it was like that kind of a relationship that I like this girl but I will not marry her, she is a girlfriend but will not become the wife.”
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Aakash Chopra again shared, “They used to keep him always in their team, used to pick him at the auction but did not play him. He fields well, bats well, he plays well in one match and then they used to drop him. When he was played, he was sent so low down the order that you say it is better not to play him.”
Rinku Singh has so far played just 13 matches for KKR despite being a part of their squad since 2018 as well. He has amassed 177 runs in the IPL so far, with last night’s unbeaten 42 being his best knock as well. While applauding his knock, Chopra highlighted that KKR wouldn’t have won the game without his quickfire knock.
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“This relationship has finally come to the right place. It is not halfway, Kolkata have shown the full commitment, they gave a chance to Rinku and he scored 42 runs off 23 balls. If he had not done that, the job wouldn’t have been done, I will be very honest. Nitish Rana would have been left alone. Andre Russell would have come and after that, only bowling was there. This team does not have that much batting depth. So Rinku is definitely my Player of the Match,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
