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Rinku Singh (Source: Twitter)
The initiation of India's South Africa tour is slated for December 10, 2023, with the 1st T20I match taking place on Sunday. All eyes are set on Rinku Singh, should he be included in the playing XI, following his remarkable performance in the 5-match T20I series against Australia.
This marks Rinku's first opportunity to play under the guidance of head coach Rahul Dravid, who has extended his contract with the Indian team. Speaking through an India Cricket Board (ICB) platform, Rinku shared insights into his initial training session under Dravid, emphasizing that the coach has endorsed his adherence to personal playing methods.
"The weather is beautiful here. We went for a walk after coming here and then I went into the nets. This was the first time that I trained under Rahul Dravid and it was a great feeling. He told me to stick to what I was doing and trust my process. Dravid sir told me that it was tough to play at No. 5, but told me to have faith in my abilities," Rinku Singh said in video.
It’s quite bouncy here in South Africa: Rinku Singh
In response to a question about the conditions in South Africa, Rinku stated that they were notably distinct, but he expressed confidence in his ability to navigate and perform well on fast and bouncy wickets.
"It is quite bouncy here in South Africa. You don't get this much bounce in India; it is quite quick as well. I would look to use the pace," Rinku said about the conditions in South Africa.
The ever-cheerful batsman has seamlessly integrated with the team. Emphasizing the importance of team unity, Rinku mentioned that he usually spends time with the younger players in the Indian squad. India will be playing 3 T20I followed by 3 ODIs and then lastly 2 Test matches in South Africa.
"I have played for Uttar Pradesh since 2013, always at No. 5. It is tough to bat there but I keep motivating myself. Me, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Jitesh Sharma, and Kuldeep Yadav hang out together. It is important to stay together," Rinku concluded the video.