‘I get goosebumps seeing him doing what he’s been doing’: Andre Russell on Rinku Singh

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Nitish Rana and all-rounder Andre Russell have high praise for Rinku Singh, who hits the winning runs against Punjab Kings at the Eden Gardens on Monday.
Nitish Rana said it was surreal when the entire crowd was chanting Rinku’s name.
“When he was batting, the whole crowd was chanting ‘Rinku, Rinku’. That is what he has earned this year,” Rana said at the post-match press conference.

– – 💜
The Eden Gardens crowd and entire @KKRiders side backed @rinkusingh235 to finish the job with the bat and the left-handed batter didn’t disappoint 😎#TATAIPL | #KKRvPBKS | @NitishRana_27 | @Russell12A pic.twitter.com/bNUE0ip9yd
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 8, 2023
“I’ve been at this franchise for many years now, I’m used to the Eden crowd screaming ‘Russell, Russell’ but to hear them shout ‘Rinku, Rinku’ makes me feel very happy and proud. That’s the respect he has earned this season,” he added.
Russell, who scored a 23-ball 42 in the match lauded Rinku’s ability to soak pressure.
He said: “He had told me what if the ball beats you, should we go for the run? I said for sure, I have faith in him to finish it last ball.”
“I get goosebumps seeing him doing what he’s been doing. I have company at the back end, he soaks the pressure off and he’s a really hard-working guy.

“He’s very funny outside the field, I try to stay as close to him while we are training.”
Rinku admitted that he had that self-belief now that he can finish any game.
“I didn’t think about the last ball. Even when I hit those five sixes, I hadn’t thought much. I was playing on the merit of the ball. I had the belief in me that I could finish the game,” he said.