IND vs AFG: Yuvraj Singh Lauds Rinku Singh For Incredible T20 Form, Says 'He Reminds Me Of Myself'

Former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh was impressed by young batter Rinku Singh‘s brilliant performances in the short format. Yuvraj Singh described Rinku Singh as the best left-handed batter in India at the moment, drawing parallels with his playing style.

The Indian team has experimented with several left-handers in recent times in T20Is. Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, and Shivam Dube were part of India’s top six in the first T20I, where India secured a six-wicket victory against Afghanistan in Mohali on January 11.

Following an outstanding IPL 2023 season, Rinku Singh showcased remarkable batting form for Team India in international cricket. The left-handed batter has scored 278 runs in nine innings at an outstanding average of 69.50 and a remarkable strike rate of 180.52.

Rinku Singh Is Incredibly Smart Under Pressure – Yuvraj Singh

In a recent interview, Yuvraj Singh highlighted Rinku Singh’s ability to make crucial decisions under pressure. Yuvraj expressed confidence in Rinku’s potential to be a match-winner and a reliable finisher at the No. 5 or 6 positions.

“He’s probably the best left-hander in the Indian squad right now. He reminds me of myself – he knows when to attack when to rotate strike, and he’s incredibly smart under pressure,” Yuvraj told The Telegraph.

“He can win us matches. I don’t want to put pressure on him, but I truly believe he has the skill to do what I used to – to be the finisher who delivers at No.5 or 6,” the former all-rounder added.

Yuvraj Singh amassed almost 12,000 international runs, including 17 centuries, in his illustrious career. The southpaw played a pivotal role in India’s successful 2011 ODI World Cup campaign, earning him the Player of the Tournament award. He also contributed significantly to India’s victory in the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007.

Shubman Gill Needs To Work Harder In Test Cricket – Yuvraj Singh

Shubman Gill got a promising start in the first T20I but failed to convert it, getting out after scoring 23 runs. As Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal are available for selection in the second match in Indore, Gill’s spot in the playing XI appears to be under threat.

Yuvraj Singh offered advice to emerging talent Shubman Gill, acknowledging his success in white-ball cricket. The 42-year-old emphasized the importance of excelling in all formats to be among the best in the world.

“Shubman needs to work harder in Test cricket. If you want to be the best in the world, you have to conquer all formats,” Yuvraj stated.

The batter has encountered difficulties in the red-ball format. He delivered subpar performances in the recent Test series against South Africa, scoring only 74 runs in four innings. Overall, he has scored 1040 runs in 20 Tests at a disappointing average of 30.59.

The Rohit Sharma-led team will be hoping to secure a series victory when they take on the Afghanistan team in the second T20I match at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore on Sunday, January 14.

Also read: Yuvraj Singh Hints At Becoming India’s Mentor In ICC Events; Reveals Being Rejected By Ashish Nehra