Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has questioned Rinku Singh’s role in the first T20I against New Zealand. He wondered if the middle-order batter could hit sixes as soon as he arrived at the crease, allowing him to be assigned the finisher job.
Batting at number seven, Rinku remained unbeaten on 44 off 20 balls as India posted a 238-run target for New Zealand in Nagpur on Wednesday (January 29). The Men in Blue went on to restrict the Kiwis to 190/7 to register a 48-run win and take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Aakash posted a video on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra, where he said that Rinku is not getting the best batting position for him.
“In my opinion, you give Rinku Singh a chance too low in the batting order. He is your designated finisher, but should he be your designated finisher? You should ask that question for sure because, although he got to play more balls this time, many times 18-odd balls are left when the finisher gets the chance to play,” Chopra said. (4:50)
“When 18-odd balls are left, he would get eight to 10 balls. Is he someone who can hit a six from the first ball? He does everything that he can do and a little more, he tries to do more than what is in his control, he gives his 100 percent, but if you want the best from him, give him a few more overs.”
Aakash Chopra
Rinku Singh came out to bat when India were 166/5 after 13.4 overs. He added key runs alongside Hardik Pandya (25 off 16), Axar Patel (5 off 5), and Arshdeep Singh (6* off 6) to help India reach a massive total.
“Shivam Dube is a designated six-hitter with a lot of strength” – Aakash Chopra on Rinku Singh batting below the all-rounder
In the same video, Aakash Chopra stated that Rinku Singh should have been sent to bat ahead of Shivam Dube.
“His three half-centuries have come when he got to bat in the powerplay. I am not saying you should send him there, but when you sent Shivam Dube, you could have sent Rinku in his place. Make Rinku bat there. Shivam Dube is a designated six-hitter with a lot of strength. So you can move him slightly down the order.”
Aakash Chopra
The cricketer-turned-commentator observed that the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) player is coming back into the Indian T20I side after a long gap of time and called him an out-and-out batsman unlike Dube, who manages to bowl some overs as well.
“Rinku is returning after such a long time in any case. So you allow him an opportunity to play a few overs, get set, and score more runs. Shivam Dube is a two-skilled player. You are getting him to bowl as well. So he is going to be relevant a lot more. Rinku has only one skill set. He is a batter. My only request is that you should make him bat slightly up the order.”
Aakash Chopra
Shivam Dube got nine runs off four balls while batting at number six in the opening T20I against New Zealand. He finished with 2/28 in three overs, taking both of his wickets in the Kiwi innings’ final over.
