Rinku Singh has been praised by Aakash Chopra for performing admirably in all of his allocated tasks in the present T20I series between India and Australia.
Rinku scored 46 off 29 as the Men in Blue set Australia a 175-run goal in the fourth T20I in Raipur on Friday. The hosts then held Matthew Wade and company to 154-7, completing the five-match series 3-1 ahead of the final game on Sunday in Bengaluru.
Reflecting on India’s batting, Chopra lauded Rinku for playing to the occasion in a video posted to his YouTube channel:
“This series will be remembered for Rinku. He was given different roles in different positions, and he fulfilled them. He was very good. You can get him to bat anywhere. Here he got to bat in the ninth over. The six he hit with a reverse sweep was an exceptional hit.”
Aakash Chopra
Chopra felt that the on-field umpire should not have given Rinku Singh out leg-before-wicket since the ball barely touched the leg stump. Former India opener Jitesh Sharma was also commended for making the most of his opportunity:
“He played till the end, got out in the 20th over. I feel he wasn’t out. The umpire shouldn’t have given it. Benefit of doubt goes to the batter, not to the umpire.
“Jitesh played well. It was an important match for him because he doesn’t get too many opportunities. He played good shots straight down the ground.”
Aakash Chopra
In just 5.2 overs, Rinku and Jitesh scored 56 runs for the fifth wicket. While Rinku hit four fours and two sixes in his 46-run innings, the wicketkeeper-batter smacked a 19-ball 35 with a four and three maximums.
“I have seen him getting out quite a few times” – Aakash Chopra on Yashasvi Jaiswal’s dismissal against the short ball
While praising Yashasvi Jaiswal for getting India off to a strong start, Aakash Chopra noted that he has frequently succumbed to the short ball:
“Yashasvi played very well till the time he was there. But he got out to a short ball. Short ball in white-ball cricket – is that a problem? I am not saying it is, but I have seen him getting out quite a few times.”
Aakash Chopra
Shreyas Iyer didn’t have the finest day as a fielder or with the bat, according to the cricketer-turned-commentator:
“Shreyas Iyer didn’t look himself. The ball was not going into his hands in the field, wasn’t able to pick and throw the ball. In batting also, three doubles had come, and then an attempt to play a big shot. From 50 for no loss to 63/3 – wickets fell quickly.”
Aakash Chopra
Shreyas hit a seven-ball eight and then dropped a Tanveer Sangha delivery down Chris Green’s throat at long-on.
Suryakumar Yadav was removed for one shortly after, reducing India to 63-3 before Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma, and Ruturaj Gaikwad (32 off 28) rescued them.
