NEW DELHI: India’s commanding 86-run victory over Bangladesh in the second T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Wednesday was built on a strong performance by Rinku Singh and Nitish Kumar Reddy. Singh scored 53 off 29 balls and formed a crucial partnership with Nitish (74 off 34 balls), helping India take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Rinku Singh credited head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav for supporting an aggressive approach.”The coach and captain have asked us to play our game, and whatever the situation, the message from them is maarte jao ball ko (just keep hitting the ball),” Singh said. “The coach has asked us to back ourselves and play our game. He has given us full freedom to hit the ball.”
When Singh came to bat, India was struggling at 41/3 inside the powerplay. He adapted to the situation, building a 108-run partnership with Reddy off 49 balls. This effort helped India post a total of 221/9.
“At the position I play, I get batting at different junctures of the game. Whenever I get to bat earlier, my aim is to take singles and doubles and attack the bad balls,” Singh explained. “When I come to bat with 2-3 overs left, my aim is to hit more fours and sixes. My main aim is to collect more and more runs for the team.”
Singh noted that batting conditions were tough initially. “When the match started, the ball was not coming properly onto the bat. When Sanju (Samson) and Surya bhai got out, Reddy told me that the ball phans rahi hai (was sticking on the wicket). I batted accordingly, and then the wicket got a little better. We were discussing that we should get a good partnership first and get the momentum. We started with singles, and then Reddy hit sixes, and the momentum changed.”
Singh aims to play for India in all formats. “I do see myself as an all-format player; wherever I get the opportunity, I will play,” he said.