Former India batting coach Vikram Rathour feels that Rinku Singh has the credentials to develop into a successful Test cricketer. Rinku Singh, who has been one of the best T20 batters for India in the past year, has good numbers in first-class cricket, with an average of 50-plus in 47 matches. The left-handed Uttar Pradesh batter has scored 3173 runs in domestic cricket red-ball format, which includes 7 centuries.
Team India’s outgoing batting coach Vikram Rathour pointed out Rinku Singh’s brilliant skillsets to develop into a Test cricketer for India. Rathour was Team India’s batting coach and was a key member of Rahul Dravid’s coaching staff. During his tenure as batting coach, Rinku made his Team India debut in the white-ball format.
Rinku Singh’s success in white ball format especially T20I cricket.
In 20 T20I matches, Rinku Singh has scored 416 runs at a strike-rate of 176.27 with 2 fifties to his name. Rinku Singh has flourished well in the role of finisher in the T20Is for India and with India entering the transition phase, he is going to play a crucial role for the team in the next few years. He also made his ODI debut in December of last year but has yet to get a chance in Test cricket. However, he travelled with the Indian team in the Test series against England earlier this year.
Vikram Rathour, who was part of Rahul Dravid’s coaching staff as batting coach, witnessed Rinku Singh’s growth in international cricket from close quarters in the nets. He said that Rinku Singh has a very calm temperament and a good first-class record, which indicates that he can develop into a Test cricket.
Vikram Rathour backs youngster Rinku Singh to blossom for India in all formats post success in T20Is
Outgoing Team India batting coach picked T20 sensation Rinku Singh to find success for the national side in Test cricket if given an opportunity. The 26-year-old debuted for India in the white-ball formats last year and has played 20 T20Is and two ODIs so far.
Rinku boasts a sensational T20I record as India’s finisher with an average of 83.20 and a strike rate of 176.27. He was in the traveling reserves of the 2024 T20 World Cup-winning Indian squad.
In a conversation with PTI, Rathour said:
“When I see him bat in nets, I can’t find any technical reasons why Rinku cannot be a successful Test batter. I understand he has made his name as a terrific finisher in T20 cricket but if you look at his first-class record, he is averaging in high 50s. He is also blessed with a very calm temperament. So all these factors indicate that if given an opportunity, he can develop into a Test cricketer.”
Despite becoming a household name for his heroics in the IPL and T20Is, Rinku Singh boasts a stellar first-class record. The talented batter averages an impressive 54.70 with seven centuries in 47 outings in the red-ball format for Uttar Pradesh.
Vikram Rathour praises coach Rahul Dravid post WT20 success
Vikram Rathour hailed Rahul Dravid as the best coach he has worked with after the duo helped India to the 2024 T20 World Cup title in the West Indies and the USA.
Dravid was India’s head coach from November 2021 until the end of the T20 World Cup and has been replaced by former batter Gautam Gambhir.
“Rahul is the best coach that I have worked with, who gives you lots of space to work, is open to suggestions and will provide you an honest feedback. One of the first discussions we had was about changing the batting template in T20 cricket. We agreed that we needed to bring in more intent and aggression in our batting approach,” said Rathour.
He cited the example of having Axar Patel at No.8 in the batting order which helped the top-order batters play with freedom.
“That made a massive difference and gave the batters in top order lot more freedom to bat,” added Rathour.
Under Dravid, India also dominated in the other two formats, reaching the 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) and ODI World Cup final. Meanwhile, Rathour became India’s batting coach, replacing Sanjay Bangar in 2019.