Team India kicked off the new year with a bang in the white-ball format, registering a dominant six-wicket win against Afghanistan in the first T20I of their three-match series in Mohali.
The star of the show was left-handed batter Shivam Dube, who played an unbeaten knock of 60 runs off 40 balls to help the Men in Blue successfully chase down a 159-run target against Afghanistan on January 11.
Well, Rinku Singh, another left-hander, also played an important role in India’s win by scoring a 9-ball 16* and formed an unbeaten 42-run partnership with Dube for the fifth wicket to take his team home.
After the match, Rinku credited the former Indian skipper's advice to him to stay calm and composed with the bat.
Rinku Singh said at the post-match interaction: “I've spoken with Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni), he just told me to react according to the ball, keep your calm and I just do the same thing. I don't think a lot while batting, just react to the ball.”
On the finisher’s role, the star batter said: “I have got a habit of batting at 6 and finishing games, I'm feeling very happy with this job. Enjoyed the cold conditions, it was tough while fielding though. I just try to talk to myself, batting at 6, I don't have the chance to face too many balls or score too many runs, that's the thing I keep telling myself.”
The second T20I will be played on January 14 in Indore.
(With TOI Inputs)
