The head coach of the Lucknow Super Giants Andy Flower, complimented Kolkata Knight Riders batter Rinku Singh for his magnificent performance, although in a losing cause. He went on to describe the player as a person who is both ambitious and modest.
Rinku Singh has been particularly effective with his deadly hitting in IPL 2023. He gave LSG a fright on Saturday. At 120-5, KKR were in severe difficulty chasing 177. Rinku clobbered 67* in 33 balls to help his squad. Kolkata ultimately lost by just one run.
Andy Flower praised the aggressive left-handed batter during the post-match press conference:
“He looks like a really talented guy, but he also looks like he is hungry for success and humble at the same time. He is confident. He’s got a really good package. There’s so much batting talent in this country. But he’s showing that he can do it when he’s under pressure, and that’s a key aspect to playing international cricket. He’s got a future.”
“Rinku Singh played out of his skin again to get them that close. And it was a matter of not making the obvious error in those last few overs. He batted beautifully; he batted brilliantly. We didn’t quite hit our straps at the end. But then Naveen and Yash were doing quite a tough job bowling multiple overs in a row at the death. They came through in the end.”
Andy Flower praised Naveen and Thakur for their bowling efforts in the IPL 2023:
“Both of them have been brilliant for us this season. Yash, as a young guy coming through in his first IPL season. … I knew him when he was bowling in the nets at Punjab Kings. To see him do so well and so brilliantly under pressure, it’s really wonderful. Lot of respect for Rinku for the way that he played, but it was brilliant by our guys, including our captain, to get us through.”
Andy Flower on Pooran’s half-century
While Rinku stole the show with his amazing knock, Nicholas Pooran also made an impression by hitting 58 off 30. The knock let LSG recover from a 73-5 deficit to end on 176-8. Flower praised Pooran and said:
“He’s been sensational for us. He made the difference today (Saturday). It takes a lot of confidence in yourself to hit balls that early in your innings – the way he has hit them for us in a few really important innings. It’s been wonderful to have him remaining in our dugout for that last section of a 20-over innings. He’s getting greater clarity on his game each time I see him.”
Pooran has hit 358 runs in 14 games, averaging 32.55 at a strike rate of 173.79.