'A Partnership That Started in 2018': Ex-KKR Captain Reveals How Abhishek Nayar Revived Rinku's Career Post Injury

Team India began their post-World Cup assignment at home on a winning note, defeating Australia by 2 wickets in the first T20I in Vizag on Thursday. A 112-run partnership between Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan set the base for a colossal chase of 209. But it was Rinku Singh who played the finisher’s role. His unbeaten knock of 22 runs off 14 balls helped India cross the finish line off the last delivery of the innings.

India needed 7 off the last six balls but the wickets of Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi and Arshdeep Singh in the third, fourth and fifth deliveries of the final over left the hosts 1 run short of a victory. Rinku was up against Sean Abbott but the Aussie speedster bowled a no-ball which was clobbered for a six by the left-hander to seal a victory for his side.

On his way back to the dressing room, Rinku was warmly hugged by Abhishek Nayar, who was in the commentary duties for JioCinema. As members of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), they both share a special bond which was further explained by Dinesh Karthik on microblogging site X.

“This is one of the most fulfilling and heartwarming pictures going around. The relationship between ABHISHEK NAYAR n RINKU SINGH,” Karthik posted on X.

The veteran wicketkeeper-batter further revealed how Nayar revived his career and turned him into the finisher that he is today.

“It was a partnership that started in 2018 during my time in KKR. Nayar always saw the potential in Rinku, he kept telling me, it was only a matter of time before he did something really special.

“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 the time he had an ACL injury, nayar convinced @VenkyMysore sir who gracefully accepted Rinku to be part of the team and made him travel and stay with KKR. He stayed in nayars house post IPL for many months for Rehab and started working on his batting and had a stellar domestic season and then eventually did what Nayar and kkr always thought he could do, a MATCH WINNING FINISHER.”

“And today when I see this photo i just feel like NAYAR as a coach has grown in stature and can share the happiness he feels for Rinku along with the rest of the world.

“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

“Well done @abhisheknayar1 and @rinkusingh235. To many more such stories,” Karthik added.

Rinku has been associated with KKR since 2018 but it was in 2023 when he rose to the occasion with his 5 sixes in an over against Gujarat Titans. He carried on with the momentum throughout the season and ended as the top-scorer for KKR with 474 runs in 14 games.