Rinku Singh was strong as an ox: Ravi Shastri recalls first memories of KKR batter

Ravi Shastri recalled the times when he first saw Rinku Singh. Shastri, a part of India’s 1983 World Cup-winning team, said that Rinku was someone who had “got his head on his shoulders”.

Back in 2018, Rinku was picked to play for KKR in the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, he was never a regular member of the team in the first 4 seasons.

It was only in the 2022 edition that Rinku started making a mark. In 2023, the left-armer helped KKR beat GT after hitting Yash Dayal for 5 sixes in a row at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Although the Knights failed to make their way through to the playoffs, Rinku grabbed the attention of the national selectors, after which he went on to make his debut for India.

“I met Rinku Singh and I have been commentating on him seeing him from the outside. When I met him for the first time, he was strong as an ox. Very little baggage, excellent temperament and he has got his head on his shoulders. He is so matured that under pressure, he has clarity in his thinking. A lot of the other youngsters want to emulate him, sitting in the crowd, thinking if these guys can do it, we can also do it,” Shastri said in a video on IPL’s official ‘X’ handle.

Rinku is one of the strongest contenders to be picked in the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and United States of America (USA).

‘They come without baggage’
Apart from praising Rinku, Shastri also had words of praise for the other youngsters. He lauded them for “carrying less baggage” and playing with more freedom.

“Meeting these youngsters gives me a great thrill because they are the future. The quicker they are given opportunities, the better,” Shastri said.

“Carrying less baggage is the key and you play your best cricket when you are an unknown entity. You know how much I love youngsters because to strike the right balance in any great team, you need youth and experience. To keep an eye on the youngsters is extremely important because they nip away at the heels of the seniors and they keep them on their toes. And most refreshing is they come without baggage,” Shastri added.