IND vs AUS 2023: He will be a great asset to Indian cricket – Ashish Nehra on Rinku Singh

Former Indian fast bowler Ashish Nehra has showered praise on Rinku Singh, stating he is a great asset to Indian cricket. Rinku Singh has made the finisher role his own in the ongoing five-match T20I series against Australia. The left-hander scored 14-ball 22 to get India over the line in the run-chase of 209 runs in the opening T20I.

The southpaw scored another fine knock of 9-ball 31 in the second T20I against Australia to add the finishing touches and helped India post 235 runs on the board.

Singh has scored 128 runs in four T20I innings at a blistering strike rate of 216.95 and he has shown the skills to take up the finisher role for the national team.

Meanwhile, Singh had done a fine job while playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. The left-hander has scored 725 runs in 31 IPL matches at an average of 36.25 and a strike rate of 142.16.

“This is not the first time he has done it (finish a game). We all have been discussing his role, his power. Not just about his batting, even with the way he throws himself on the field, it shows he is a great team man. He will be a great asset to Indian cricket. Yes, we are talking only about T20 cricket, but who knows tomorrow he can also be playing ODI cricket,” Nehra said on JioCinema.

Nehra said he is not a big fan of giving the tag of a finisher and he is hopeful that Rinku Singh is open to playing any kind of role for the team according to the match situation.

“I am not a big fan of the word ‘finisher’. Your opener can be a finisher, if he scores a hundred, he can finish the game and come back. At times, it can be harsh. Let me give you an example, if the same Rinku Singh does not finish the game once or twice. Coming back to Rinku Singh, he is someone who can even play up the order, I can see him playing in 50-over cricket going forward. He can bat at No. 4, No. 5 or No. 6,” Nehra explained.

“On any odd day, the Indian team can be 40 for 4 in 5-6 overs. And I hope Rinku Singh is ready to play any role, I hope he does not want to be tagged himself as a finisher. He should be looking to excel in all departments,” he added.

The fourth T20I between India and Australia will be played at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur on Friday.