India‘s convincing win over New Zealand in the first T20I at Nagpur has once again brought the spotlight firmly on Rinku Singh and his role in the national side. After a blistering unbeaten cameo that helped India post a massive total, former New Zealand cricketer and broadcaster Simon Doull reiterated his belief that Rinku has not been utilised enough in India’s T20 setup and deserves extended backing as a finisher.
Simon Doull reckons Rinku Singh has been underused by India in T20Is
Doull did not hold back while assessing Rinku’s journey in international cricket. He pointed out that despite breaking through several years ago and delivering repeatedly in the IPL, Rinku has not featured enough in India’s T20 plans. The former fast bowler’s remarks were not meant as a literal comparison but as a reflection of how regularly Rinku could have been part of India’s T20I setup if he had been backed with continuity. According to Doull, India identified Rinku’s finishing ability early but failed to fully capitalise on it at international level.
“Rinku Singh is one of the best finishers in the game. We saw him burst onto the scene in the IPL four or five years ago, and I still feel he hasn’t played enough T20 cricket for India since then. He should have featured far more and could easily have played 100 games by now,” Doull told Star Sports.
Why Doull believes Rinku must be backed as a finisher
Doull expanded on his views by highlighting what makes Rinku such a rare asset in modern T20 cricket. He stressed that finishing is a specialist role and one that Rinku executes better than most. He emphasised that Rinku’s power comes from timing, bat swing and composure rather than size alone, qualities that allow him to dominate bowlers in the final overs. For Doull, the lack of prolonged backing has been the only missing piece in Rinku’s international career so far.
“Rinku needs to be backed in that finishing role because he is exceptional at it. Despite his height, he is incredibly powerful, and his ability to get under the ball at the death makes him extremely difficult to bowl to,” added Doull.
Rinku proves his worth in Nagpur
The first T20I between India and New Zealand at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium served as a timely reminder of Rinku’s value. After New Zealand won the toss and chose to bowl, India piled on a massive 238/7 in 20 overs. Abhishek Sharma led the charge with a breathtaking 84 off just 35 balls, but it was Rinku who ensured India finished strongly. The left-hander remained unbeaten on 44, striking four fours and three sixes to maintain relentless pressure till the final over.
Chasing a daunting target, New Zealand struggled to keep pace despite a valiant effort from Glenn Phillips, who scored 78 off 40 balls, and Mark Chapman’s 39 off 24. India’s bowlers tightened the screws in the middle overs, with Shivam Dube returning figures of 2/28. New Zealand eventually finished on 190/7, handing India a comprehensive 48-run victory and a commanding start to the series.
