Asian Games 2023: Rampant Rinku's fire does the trick for India in Hangzhou

In a dazzling display of cricketing prowess, Rinku Singh illuminated the Pingfeng Campus Cricket Field in Hangzhou during the Asian Games 2023 quarter-final clash against Nepal. Emerging as the saviour for the Indian side, Rinku Singh embarked on a breathtaking 15-ball 37-run cameo. The stage was set when the Uttar Pradesh batter walked out to bat following the departure of Yashasvi Jaiswal in the 17th over.

At that juncture, Nepal had managed to put the brakes on India's scoring rate, claiming wickets at regular intervals since their first breakthrough in the 10th over. The scoreboard read 150-4 with only 22 balls remaining, and the responsibility fell on the shoulders of the two left-handed batters, Shivam Dube and Rinku, to reignite India's innings.

The southpaw wasted no time as he settled into his rhythm, announcing his arrival with a colossal straight six down the ground. After accumulating seven runs off his first seven deliveries, he shifted gears, launching another six in the penultimate over. However, his piece de resistance was reserved for the final over, where he unleashed a stunning trifecta of boundaries off the first three deliveries. With one more flourish left in his repertoire, he dispatched the penultimate ball of the innings for another boundary, propelling India to the coveted 200-run mark.

Here's Rinku Singh's batting display against Nepal:

Rinku Singh doing what he does best time and again

The 25-year-old's ability to explode into action from the very beginning was not a one-off spectacle. He had already exhibited his flair during the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, where he stood as the leading run-scorer for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). His impressive performances in the IPL paved the way for his maiden call-up to the senior team, and he continued to dazzle on the international stage with a rapid 38 off 21 deliveries in the second T20I against Ireland.

As the cricketing world watches, India now await the revelation of their semi-final opponents in this thrilling Asian Games 2023 competition. Alongside them, cricketing powerhouses like Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, along with Malaysia and Hong Kong are also vying for supremacy in the upcoming quarter-finals.