In a remarkable display of his cricketing prowess, Rinku Singh continued his form from the IPL onto the international stage. Making his debut appearance in T20Is for India against Ireland, Rinku’s stellar performance earned him the “Player of the Match” title. He smashed an impressive 38 runs off just 21 balls in the second T20I. Although he didn’t get a chance to bat in his debut series opener, he quickly settled into his role as No. 5 batsman and unleashed his explosive potential in the final overs.
Rinku’s playing style is characterized by his ability to accelerate the run rate in the later part of the innings, and he certainly lived up to this reputation. In the 19th over, bowled by Barry McCarthy, Rinku unleashed a flurry of boundaries and sixes, contributing to India’s competitive total of 185 runs. His powerful hitting continued in the final over with another six before he was eventually dismissed.
With a strike rate of 180.95, Rinku achieved the second-highest strike rate for an Indian player making his debut in T20Is, just behind the remarkable Suryakumar Yadav, who achieved a strike rate of 183.87 in his debut innings against England in 2021.
The list of the highest strike rates for Indian players in debut T20I innings stands as follows:
- Suryakumar Yadav – 183.87
- Rinku Singh – 180.95
- Tilak Varma – 177.27
- Ishan Kishan – 175.00
- Ajinkya Rahane – 156.41
Rinku’s performance added to well-compiled innings by Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson, who scored 58 and 40 respectively. The bowlers’ collective effort, led by Prasidh Krishna and Ravi Bishnoi, ensured the team’s victory. Captain Jasprit Bumrah’s contribution was instrumental in securing a win for India, despite a commendable effort by Andrew Balbirnie from the Irish side.
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