Rinku didn’t get a chance to bat in the T20I series opener against Ireland.
Playing for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Rinku amassed 474 runs from 14 innings at a brilliant average and strike rate of 59.25 and 149.52 respectively. More than the impressive numbers, he captured everyone’s imagination by finishing games for KKR from difficult situations.
Subsequently, Rinku was rewarded a place in India’s squad for the ongoing T20I tour of Ireland and the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games.
On Friday (August 18), the left-hander received his maiden India cap in the first T20I against Ireland in Dublin.
While Rinku didn’t get a chance to bat in the series opener, former India wicketkeeper Kiran More believes that the southpaw has the potential to become a remarkable finisher, much like the legendary MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh.
"I have been waiting for his opportunity in the Indian team. And that batting position, of No.5 and 6, he will perform well in that spot and can end up being a brilliant finisher. We all have seen MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh. After that we haven't got a player like them. We tried making such players, but it didn't work so far. Tilak Varma is also there, he too can perform that role. Rinku is also a brilliant fielder. And I have seen him in domestic cricket as well, he has improved a lot I feel," Kiran More said while speaking on Jio Cinema.
Former India cricketer Abhishek Nayar, who was also part of the panel on Jio Cinema, urged the team management to give Rinku a consistent run and groom him for the finisher role.
"With Hardik Pandya transforming into a role of a batter and playing higher up the order, you need someone down the order who can finish off the job for you. You did have someone like Axar Patel for it, but Rinku is tailor-made. He has been a prolific run-getter across formats in domestic cricket. It is just about grooming him and constantly giving those opportunities. The last player India had tagged as a finisher was Dinesh Karthik. Hardik had performed that role terrifically as well, but he has now evolved as a batter who can take responsibility up the order. That is why the outlook towards Rinku should be the same as we are looking towards Tilak," Nayar said.
The second T20I between India and Ireland is slated to be held in Dublin on Sunday (August 20).