'When the last over is going on, try to hit straight' - Rinku Singh recalls MS Dhoni's valuable advice on finishing games

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) star batter Rinku Singh recalled advice from legendary captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni during the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season. The youngster has had an impressive campaign with KKR in the 16th edition of the cash-rich league. Rinku's five sixes against Gujarat Titans (GT) during the IPL 2023 season drastically changed the young batter's life. Not only did the 25-year-old assist the two-time IPL champions in their comeback victory but he is also being backed by many veteran cricketers to get India's call-up. 

The 25-year-old batter recently revealed a piece of million-dollar advice from the maestro of finishing, Dhoni. The youngster recalled asking the CSK captain once about different approaches to finishing the game. To which the 41-year-old, complimented his batting and advised him to focus on hitting the ball straight rather than worrying about what the bowler would do.

"Mahi bhai is the best finisher, so I was asking him what the other ways to finish the game he told me, I was watching your batting, you batted well, he told me when the last over is going on, try to hit straight, let the bowler do what he wants to," Rinku told the Sports Hour.

Rinku Singh ended the season as Kolkata Knight Riders' highest run-getter

While the Kolkata Knight Riders finished eighth place in the IPL 2023 points table with 12 points, missing out on the playoffs, Rinku Singh had a significant breakthrough year. He batted brilliantly in many of Kolkata's games this season. One of his best innings came against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in KKR's final league stage clash, when he scored an unbeaten 67* off 33 deliveries to help his team edge closer to victory. 

Many cricketers saw the youngster as a promising player last season when he scored 174 runs in just seven games. Meanwhile, this season, he has amassed 474 runs in 14 games with a stunning average of 59.25 and a strike rate of 149.52, including four half-centuries, and finished as Kolkata’s highest run-scorer.