Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra lambasted Rinku Singh’s critics after Kolkata Knight Riders registered a four-wicket win against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Sunday. Singh was trolled on social media when he was going through a rough patch.
However, the left-hander scored a mature knock of 53 runs off 34 balls against the inaugural champions in the run-chase of 160. The UP batter scored five fours and two sixes in his unbeaten match-winning knock.
Singh had the rub of the green on his side as he was dropped by Nandre Burger when he was on run-a-ball eight.
“I feel very good for Rinku because he was being trolled a lot. What all nonsense people say. I read in many places that Rinku was good when he was poor. Aren’t you ashamed while saying that? How will you feel if someone says the same thing about you?” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
Chopra added Singh was part of India’s T20 World Cup campaign and anyone can through a lean patch.
“People said he is a useless player. People forgot that he is a world champion. He gets few chances. The number at which he bats, you aren’t able to bat that well, and this team hasn’t used him well. Everyone can go through bad form. Rinku was trolled like he had murdered someone. So really happy for him,” he observed.
Chopra also praised Anukul Roy, who added the finishing touches with 16-ball 29 in the run-chase. The Bengal cricketer had performed consistently in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
“It was massive news for me that Rinku scored runs. I felt extremely happy that he scored runs. He got a life, but runs were scored. Anukul Roy, well done, the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy’s Player of the Tournament. Again, it tells you that you perform better when you come after doing well in domestic cricket,” Chopra noted.
Furthermore, Varun Chakravarthy returned with impressive figures of 3-14 in his four overs and the former KKR batter, Chopra, added that mystery spinner’s return to form is gold dust for the three-time champions.
“The good news for KKR is that Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy are both bowling well, and Varun Chakaravarthy’s return to form is absolutely gold dust. Sometimes you need a break. He had a hand injury, and he got a break because of that, but now he is back in actually very, very good form,” he said.
KKR will next take on Lucknow Super Giants at Lucknow on Sunday.
