Red-ball love: Rinku Singh explains how he carved out Delhi masterclass vs Bangladesh

IND vs BAN 2nd T20I: Rinku Singh revealed his love for red-ball cricket as the reason for his blistering 53 in the Delhi encounter. The Uttar Pradesh batter averages nearly 54 in first-class cricket, boasting seven hundreds.

In Short

• Rinku Singh scored trailblazing 53 from 29 balls in 2nd T20I vs Bangladesh
• He shared a 108-run stand with Nitish Kumar Reddy who scored 74
• India beat Bangladesh by 86 runs to take 2-0 lead in the T20I series

Rinku Singh revealed his love for red-ball cricket as the reason behind his masterful knock in the 2nd T20I against Bangladesh at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. Rinku, who boasts an average of nearly 54 in first-class cricket, suggested that batting in similar positions for Uttar Pradesh in domestic cricket has helped him rescue the team and score vital runs.

The 26-year-old entertained the crowd with a stunning 29-ball 53, contributing significantly to India’s commanding 86-run win over Bangladesh. This victory marked India’s biggest margin of triumph against their neighbours.

“I love playing with the red ball. The way I batted right now in this match is similar to how I bat at 5-6 number when wickets fall in domestic games. So, I keep backing myself and focus on scoring runs for the team, pulling the team out of difficult situations,” Rinku told the broadcasters after India’s win when asked if there was a connection between his T20I success and his first-class performance.

Rinku has played 48 first-class matches, scoring 3,179 runs at an impressive average of 53.88, with 7 centuries and 20 half-centuries. Despite his red-ball prowess, the star T20I batter did not feature in the Duleep Trophy 2024.

India vs Bangladesh, 2nd T20I: Report | Highlights

Rinku and Nitish's match-winning partnership

Rinku and Nitish Kumar Reddy shone brightly in India’s dominant victory, sharing a 108-run stand off just 49 balls. Rinku’s 53 and Nitish’s 74 turned the game around as the duo bailed India out from a precarious 41/3. Nitish started cautiously, scoring 13 runs off his first 13 balls. However, a free hit delivered by Mahmudullah changed the course of the game, allowing Nitish to break free and switch gears.

Rinku Singh also expressed his admiration for Nitish’s trailblazing knock and their match-winning partnership.

“There was a no-ball, and he hit a six on the free hit. From there, Nitish’s confidence soared. He batted with great intelligence. We were talking and enjoying a lot as well, and I told him, ‘It’s God’s plan, keep hitting.’”

"Not thinking too much into future"

India muscled their way to a massive total of 221, with Hardik Pandya adding a quickfire 32-run cameo. Nitish Kumar Reddy capped off his all-round performance by picking up two wickets, ensuring India’s thumping win.

Rinku emphasized his focus on staying grounded and not overthinking about the future. “There is no plan as such for now. Earlier, I started thinking too much, and things weren’t going well. So now, I am keeping myself in the present. Whatever is happening right now, I focus on that and try not to look too far ahead,” Rinku said.

The Indian team will now aim to complete a clean sweep of the series in Hyderabad on October 12.