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'He Averages 50 In Ranji' - Nehra Denounces T20I Specialist Tag On Rinku Singh

image-lpozazk1Rinku Singh (Twitter)

Ashish Nehra denounced the T20I specialist's tag attached on Rinku Singh and backed the selectors' decision to include the extravagant UP left-hander in India's team for the forthcoming ODI leg of the trip to South Africa next month. 

After emerging as a match-winner in his limited outings for India in T20Is, Rinku was also selected for his maiden ODI assignment by the selection committee, which, however, was criticised in certain corners as a case of mixing up formats. 

However, Nehra nodded to the youngster's viability even in the 50-over version by highlighting his encouraging List A and first-class record. A prolific run-scorer for Uttar Pradesh in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and Ranji Trophy, Rinku averages 49.83 in List A and 57.82 in first-class cricket. 


Nehra Backs Rinku Singh's ODI Selection 

Speaking to JioCinema after India confirmed their squad for the Proteas challenge across 3 T20Is, 3 ODIs and 2 Tests in December-January, Nehra came out in support of Ajit Agarkar-led panel's decision to back Rinku as an end-overs aggressor even for the 50-over format of the game. 

Nehra said people who have only seen the 26-year-old hammer oppositions at the death for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL and for Men in Blue in his young, flourishing T20I career wouldn't be aware of his body of work at the domestic level. 

"People know Rinku Singh because of T20 but don’t forget he averages around 50 in Ranji Trophy too. He’s been called up to for the one-day squad too. Selectors must’ve seen something. He came in to bat early today. We have seen him bat in the death overs a lot of times but the way he played today deserves appreciation," Nehra said following the fourth T20I. 


"He batted the way team needed him. At one point, it looked they could make 190 but if India would’ve lost Rinku at that stage, scoring 160 would have become a challenge too." "It’s a big plus for India that they have selected him in 50-over format and today, he got a chance to bat early and he showed that (he can bat long)," he added.