IPl 2023: Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has backed young batter Rinku Singh to make his India debut very soon, saying that he is a player of different calibre. Harbhajan also said that Rinku has been the X-factor for KKR this season and not Andre Russell, which is a massive shift.
Rinku has been the standout performer for the two-time IPL champions, having won a few games with his bat in the last over. The most memorable was when he struck Yash Dayal for five consecutive sixes in the final over of the match to help KKR defeat GT.
IPl 2023: Rinku has scored 407 runs in 13 matches this season at a strike rate of 143.31 and an average of 50.88. Many people have remarked on the KKR batter’s performances, suggesting that he could be in line for a call-up to the Indian team.
“Now Rinku has become the X-factor for KKR, not Russell. Russell’s era is gone. It’s Rinku’s time now. Even if Rinku is sent up, he can do justice to his role. He is a player of different calibre and we will soon see an India cap on his head,” Harbhajan said while speaking on Star Sports’ Cricket Live.
Speaking to Star Sports, Shastri stated that Rinku is the star of the KKR team and has a very strong attitude. Rinku enjoys close matches, according to the former Indian coach, and his ability to perform effectively in pressure situations sets him apart from the competition.
“Rinku Singh is the hero of Kolkata Knight Riders. His temperament is very strong and gets very comfortable in tough situations. He’s a battle-hardened player. Rinku likes close matches and this ability to do well in crunch situations is what separates this player from others,” said Shastri.
