Rinku Singh gained widespread recognition during the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, where his remarkable performances for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) made him a household name. The left-handed batsman became KKR’s leading run-scorer of the season, with one of his most memorable moments coming against the Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad. During this match, Rinku delivered an astonishing performance, hitting five consecutive sixes to secure an improbable victory for his team.
Rinku’s stellar IPL season paved the way for his international debut with India in white-ball cricket during the August series against Ireland. Since then, he has gone on to represent India in two One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 23 T20 Internationals (T20Is).
At 26 years old, Rinku Singh remains a key player for the Kolkata Knight Riders, and he is widely expected to be retained by the franchise ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. However, should KKR decide to release him, Rinku has expressed a strong interest in joining Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). He has openly admired the team and sees himself potentially playing for them in the future. “RCB, because Virat Kohli is there,” Rinku shared with Sports Tak.
Rinku’s admiration for Virat Kohli goes beyond just team loyalty. The two share a close bond, and during the last IPL season, Rinku asked Kohli for a new bat after his previous one, gifted by Kohli, had broken. While Kohli was initially dismayed to hear about the broken bat, he eventually gave Rinku another one.
Regarding his exclusion from the Duleep Trophy, Rinku Singh has shown resilience and a positive attitude. Despite establishing himself as a vital member of India’s T20I squad, and even being named among the reserves for the T20 World Cup earlier this year, Rinku was not included in the squad for the prestigious Duleep Trophy. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had announced the squads, which featured top Indian stars like KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, and Suryakumar Yadav, but Rinku’s name was noticeably absent.
Reflecting on the snub, Rinku admitted that his performances in the Ranji Trophy were not up to par, having played only two to three matches without significant success. “I didn’t do well. I actually didn’t play as many Ranji Trophy matches, too—I played only 2-3 matches and didn’t perform well. That is why I wasn’t selected. I hope in the upcoming games, I will be selected,” Rinku told Sports Tak.
Rinku Singh remains focused on improving his game and earning his place back in the spotlight, demonstrating his determination and commitment to both his team and his career.
