(Cricket News) Rinku Singh, following his stellar performances in the recently-concluded T20I series against Afghanistan, has earned high praise from R Ashwin, who referred to him as a “left-handed MS Dhoni.”

The upward trajectory of Singh’s career continues, unveiling new dimensions along the way. Transitioning from a classic rags-to-riches tale and orchestrating one of the most thrilling climaxes in the Indian Premier League, he has evolved into a formidable T20 batsman. Excelling in the challenges of batting at No. 5 in the shortest format of the game, Rinku is making significant strides towards becoming a permanent fixture in the playing eleven.

In under a year since his debut, Rinku has solidified his position at No. 6 for India in T20 Internationals. Accumulating 356 runs in 15 matches, the left-hander boasts an impressive average of 89.00 and a striking rate of 176.23. R Ashwin, speaking on his YouTube channel, drew parallels between Rinku and Dhoni, saying, “He is somebody I’d call a left-handed Dhoni. I can’t compare him to Dhoni just yet because Dhoni is too big. But, I am talking about the composure that he brings.”

Ashwin shared insights into Rinku’s journey, highlighting his consistent run-scoring for Uttar Pradesh and his perseverance to break into the Indian team despite spending years on the Kolkata Knight Riders’ bench. The spinner also recounted a story illustrating Rinku’s sportsmanship, mentioning, “People used to tell me that, when he was at KKR, even though he couldn’t get the chance to bat at practice, he collected all the balls that batters hit in throwdowns and gave them back to the bowler.”

Continuing to commend Rinku’s dedication, Ashwin emphasized his reliability in tricky situations and his ability to maintain composure, whether the team is batting first or chasing. Ashwin concluded, “His composure towards the back end of the innings is a bonus.”

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