"He goes out there and he wins" - Brett Lee hails Rinku Singh after the KKR-PBKS game
Former Australian fast bowler Brett Lee showered praises on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) batsman Rinku Singh after the 25-year-old pulled off another miraculous last-ball finish against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Monday, May 8.
Rinku struck a boundary off the last ball of the final over, with two runs needed, to help KKR chase a tricky target of 180 and stay in contention for the playoffs.
The left-handed batter scored a crucial 21* off 10 deliveries with two fours and a six and was involved in a match-winning partnership of 54 from 27 balls with Andre Russell to complete a tense chase.
Speaking to Jio Cinema, Brett Lee complimented Rinku Singh's exciting brand of cricket by saying:
"He’s given them every reason to fall in love with Rinku Singh. He’s a match-winner, he’s an entertainer, he goes out there and he wins. It’s exciting to see a young player coming through doing that. He’s going to become a household name and is playing some decent cricket."
Earlier in the season, Rinku helped KKR win back-to-back matches against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and the Gujarat Titans (GT) with contrasting knocks.
Against RCB, Rinku scored a 46 from 33 balls when KKR were reeling at 47/3 to help them recover and post 204-7 in their 20 overs.
He followed it up with a breathtaking 48* off 21 deliveries against GT that included five sixes off the last five balls, with 29 runs needed off the final six balls to win the game for his side.
"The way Rinku Singh is batting and finishing games is a massive talking point " - Parthiv Patel after KKR's last-ball win over PBKS
Former India wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel hailed Rinku Singh's batting and the ability to absorb pressure in tense situations after the youngster pulled off another last-ball miracle against the Punjab Kings.
Rinku has been the star batter for KKR this season, scoring 337 runs at an average of 56.17 and a strike rate of 151.12 with two half-centuries to his name.
Speaking to Jio Cinema, Patel said:
"He has a massive responsibility. Performing under pressure is very important. As a player, it shows the way you think and what your mindset is. We've seen the skill Rinku Singh has when he hit those five sixes in an over but today, it was more challenging."
"He saw Andre Russell take a run on the bye because he would've thought to keep a player like Russell on the strike," he added. "The way Rinku Singh took the game to the last ball despite Arshdeep (Singh) bowling well.
"The way Rinku is batting and finishing games is a massive talking point. He was not out today as well and him winning them the game is a massive plus point for any player."
Rinku Singh played only 10 matches for KKR between 2018 and 2020 but started showing signs of his potential last year, scoring 174 runs at an average of 34.80 and a strike rate of 148.72 in seven matches.
He has further gone up a notch this year with his spectacular finishes and consistent batting to strengthen the KKR middle order. The Knight Riders will depend heavily on the youngster's form in the remainder of the games as they chase a playoff berth.
KKR will take on the Rajasthan Royals in their next game at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Thursday, May 11.