India vs Ireland T20Is 2023: Like millions of team India fans, former India wicket-keeper batter Kiran More wanted to see Kolkata Knight Riders star Rinku Singh in action but unfortunately incessant rain in Ireland's Dublin ruined all the excitement. The inaugural T20I of three-match IND vs IRE T20I series was hit by rain and India were declared winners via Duckworth-Lewis method. Ahead of the toss, Rinku Singh was handed his international debut and everyone waited for the hard-hitter to cast his magic but sadly weather in Dublin played spoilsport.
Rinku Singh earned maiden India call-up following his stellar show for Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL), this year. Fans were left disappointed after Rinku got snubbed by selectors for India tour of West Indies but later he was eventually picked up for India vs Ireland T20I series.
Hoping to see the KKR star shine in 2nd and 3rd T20Is in Ireland, More, in conversation with Jio Cinema, opined that Rinku Singh could be India's next best finisher in 20-overs format (T20Is) like Yuvraj Singh or MS Dhoni.
"I have been waiting for his opportunity in the Indian team. And that batting position, of No.5 and 6, he will perform well in that spot and can end up being a brilliant finisher. We all have seen MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh. After that we haven't got a player like them. We tried making such players, but it didn't work so far. Tilak Varma is also there, he too can perform that role. Rinku is also a brilliant fielder. And I have seen him in domestic cricket as well, he has improved a lot I feel," he said.
Adding to More's remark, former India cricketer Abhishek Nayar said:
"With Hardik Pandya transforming into a role of a batter and playing higher up the order, you need someone down the order who can finish off the job for you. You did have someone like Axar Patel for it, but Rinku is tailor-made. He has been a prolific run-getter across formats in domestic cricket. It is just about grooming him and constantly giving those opportunities. The last player India had tagged as a finisher was Dinesh Karthik. Hardik had performed that role terrifically as well, but he has now evolved as a batter who can take responsibility up the order. That is why the outlook towards Rinku should be the same as we are looking towards Tilak," he said.