"Rinku Singh is a match-winner": South Africa legend AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers. Pic/AFP

South Africa legend AB De Villiers on Saturday said that India's emerging star Rinku Singh is a match-winner and his consistency is needed to win the games.

Rinku has gathered a lot of acclaim for his role as a finisher in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and India.

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Talking about Rinku on his YouTube channel, AB said, "Rinku is a fantastic player, a match-winner, and it is good to see him become consistent as well. You need to be a consistent player who is always trying to win games for your team."

So far, Rinku Singh has featured in 15 T20I matches for India and has scored a solid 356 runs at an average of 89.00 and a strike rate of over 176. He also has t20 half-centuries registered to his name. He has been making a name for himself as a finisher for Men in Blue.

In the third and final T20I clash between India and Afghanistan, the MA Chidambaram Stadium witnessed two super overs after the match ended in a tie. AB also added that one cannot bat again if they are declared out in the first Super Over. Later, he also mentioned that Indian skpiier Rohit Sharma awho left the crease on the final ball of the first super over to bring Rinku in, would claim that he was retired hurt.

"Double Super Over unbelievable (smiles). You can't bat again if you are declared out in the first super over. I think maybe they will claim that he was retired hurt due to an injury and maybe it was a scoring mistake to show him out," he said.

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Coming to the match, India opted to bat first and was reduced to 22/4. Following this, Rohit (121' in 69 balls with 11 fours and eight sixes) and Rinku (69' in 39 balls, with two fours and six sixes) took India to 212/4 in 20 overs.

Fareed Ahmed (3/20) was the best bowler for Afghanistan.

In the run chase, Gurbaz (50 in 32 balls with three fours and four sixes) and Zadran (50 in 41 balls, with four boundaries and a six) gave Afghanistan a fine start with a 93-run opening stand.Then, Naib (55' in 23 balls, with four boundaries and four sixes) joined forces with Mohammed Nabi (34 in 16 balls, with two fours and three sixes) to help Afghanistan tie the match.

Washington Sundar (3/18) was India's top bowler.

The first Super Over ended in a tie, with both sides scoring 16 runs each. A notable moment in the game saw Rohit walking away retired hurt and having Rinku walk on the crease to be with Yashasvi Jaiswal at the final ball, needing two runs. Only one run could be made.In the second super over, Rohit hit a four and six but India lost both their wickets with a ball to go, giving Afghanistan 12 runs to make. But Ravi Bishnoi delivering this Super Over got Nabi and Gurbaz within the first three balls, with just one run on the board.

India won the match and series 3-0.

Rohit walked away with the 'Player of the Match' award while Shivam Dube (124 runs with two fifties and two wickets) got the Player of the Series' honour.

(With ANI Inputs)