'He saw potential in him': Dinesh Karthik credits former KKR star behind Rinku Singh's success

Team India's new generation started on a blistering note and carrying forward his ability to finish the game, which he showcased a number of times in IPL, Rinku Singh kept his calm to deliver it for Team India on Thursday. In the enthralling match, Rinku Singh held his nerves to dispatch the last ball for a six, when 1 was required.

3 things you need to know

• India defeated Australia by 2 3wickets in the 1st of the 5-match T20 series
• Suryakumar Yadav was adjudged the man of the match for playing an exceptional knock of 80 runs
• Rinku Singh finished with a six, but Sean Abbott's no-ball on the final ball eradicated the six from the records

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Rinku Singh: The finisher

Following his crucial 14-ball 22 runs knock, Rinku Singh has begun to take the shape of a finisher. In the match against Australia, he came in at a fairly tricky stage when 50-odd runs were required. At that point, his job was to just give the strike to Suryakumar Yadav, who was well set and smashing it with ease. However, as Surya got out, and a collapse of sorts ensued, he took the responsibility and got India home.

Also Read | Rinku's last-ball six vs Australia was not counted

Dinesh Karthik reveals an interesting chapter relating to Rinku Singh

Witnessing Rinku's innings former KKR captain, Dinesh Karthik narrated a story which revealed how Rinku Singh's talent got the upliftment.

"The relationship between ABHISHEK NAYAR and RINKU SINGH. It was a partnership that started in 2018 during my time at KKR. Nayar always saw the potential in Rinku, he kept telling me, it was only a matter of time before he did something really special. Coming from a small town in Aligarh, all he needed was to think big, and I think that shift in mindset was what Nayar worked with Rinku majorly about apart from fine-tuning his death-hitting skills," Karthik wrote while sharing a photo of Abhishek hugging Rinku.

Dinesh Karthik further revealed that Nayar kept vouching for Rinku, even when he was out injured.

"Even during the time he had an ACL injury, Nayar convinced @VenkyMysore sir who gracefully accepted Rinku to be part of the team and made him travel and stay with KKR. He stayed in Nayar's house post IPL for many months for Rehab and started working on his batting and had a stellar domestic season and then eventually did what Nayar and KKR always thought he could do, a MATCH WINNING FINISHER."

Karthik hailed Abhishek Nayar for his coaching diligence and concluded by applauding both Nayar and Singh.

"And today when I see this photo, I just feel like NAYAR as a coach has grown in stature and can share the happiness he feels for Rinku along with the rest of the world. Must be a surreal feeling seeing one of your students do well on a world stage and also be lucky enough to watch it live as a broadcaster and call the moment. Well done @abhisheknayar1 and @rinkusingh235. To many more such stories," Karthik added.