‘Must be a surreal feeling…’: Dinesh Karthik praises Rinku Singh-Abhishek Nayar’s special relationship – Times of India

NEW DELHI: India’s new ‘finisher,’ Rinku Singh, stole the limelight on Thursday with a match-winning knock of 22 not out off 14 balls, guiding the hosts to their highest-ever T20I run chase of 209 against Australia in Visakhapatnam. The first T20I of the five-match series witnessed a tense run chase, culminating in a thrilling victory for India.
Post-match, former India wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik took to social media platform X to share an endearing story about the unique bond between Rinku Singh and his mentor, Abhishek Nayar.The relationship traces back to 2018 during their shared stint with theKolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Karthik’s heartfelt post included a touching picture of the duo, and he expressed, “This is one of the most fulfilling and heartwarming pictures going around. The relationship between ABHISHEK NAYAR and RINKU SINGH.”

Revealing the evolution of this special bond, Karthik shared insights into Nayar’s unwavering belief in Rinku’s talent and his pivotal role during the left-hander’s injury phase. “Nayar always saw the potential in Rinku, he kept telling me, it was only a matter of time before he did something really special,” Karthik noted.
He continued, “Coming from a small town in Aligarh, all he needed was to think big, and I think that shift in mindset was what Nayar worked with Rinku majorly about, apart from fine-tuning his death-hitting skills.”

Even during Rinku’s ACL injury, Nayar’s conviction in the young talent prompted KKR to include him in the team. Rinku stayed with Nayar post-IPL for an extended period, undergoing rehabilitation and honing his batting skills. The result was a stellar domestic season and the emergence of Rinku as a “MATCH-WINNING FINISHER.”
Reflecting on the heartening photo, Karthik praised Nayar’s growth as a coach, stating, “Must be a surreal feeling seeing one of your students do well at a world stage and also be lucky enough to watch it live as a broadcaster and call the moment.”

In the thrilling match against Australia, India’s skipper Suryakumar Yadav played a crucial role with a blistering 42-ball 80, and Rinku’s unbeaten cameo ensured the hosts chased down the target with two wickets and one ball to spare, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. The dramatic last over, marked by Rinku’s resilience and a no-ball, added a memorable chapter to India’s T20I history.