Rinku Singh (cricketer)

Rinku Singh
Singh in 2023
Personal information
Full name
Rinku Khanchand Singh
Born 12 October 1997
Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India
Batting Left-handed
Bowling Right-arm off break
Role Middle-order batter
International information
National side
ODI debut (cap 254) 19 December 2023 v South Africa
Last ODI 21 December 2023 v South Africa
ODI shirt no. 35
T20I debut (cap 107) 18 August 2023 v Ireland
Last T20I 17 January 2024 v Afghanistan
T20I shirt no. 35
Domestic team information
Years Team
2014–present Uttar Pradesh
2017 Kings XI Punjab
2018– Kolkata Knight Riders
Career statistics
Competition ODI T20I FC LA
Matches 2 15 42 55
Runs scored 55 356 3,007 1,844
Batting average 27.50 89.00 57.82 49.83
100s/50s 0/0 0/2 7/19 1/17
Top score 38 69* 163* 104
Balls bowled 6 486 230
Wickets 1 6 7
Bowling average 2.00 44.66 21.57
5 wickets in innings 0 0 0
10 wickets in match 0 0 0
Best bowling 1/2 2/11 2/26
Catches/stumpings -/– 7/– 32/– 26/–
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 20 December 2023

Rinku Khanchand Singh (born 12 October 1997) is an Indian International cricketer. He is a left-handed middle order batter and a part-time right-handed off break bowler. Singh plays for Uttar Pradesh in domestic cricket and for Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He made his international debut for India in August 2023 when he played against Ireland at The Village.

Early life

Rinku Singh is the third of five siblings, and was born into a poor family. His father, Khanchandra Singh, worked in an LPG distribution company. During his early years, Singh lived in a two-room quarter near Aligarh Stadium in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. This accommodation was provided by his father's employers.

Domestic career

Uttar Pradesh

Singh represented Uttar Pradesh at the under-16, under-19 and under-23 levels; and also played for Central Zone at the under-19 level. He made his List A cricket debut for Uttar Pradesh in March 2014 at the age of 16 and top-scored with 83 in that match. He made his first-class debut for Uttar Pradesh in the 2016–17 Ranji Trophy on 5 November 2016.

He was the leading run-scorer for Uttar Pradesh in the group-stage of the 2018–19 Ranji Trophy, with 803 runs in nine matches. He finished the tournament with 953 runs in ten matches.

Indian Premier League to 2020

In February 2017, Singh was bought at auction by Kings XI Punjab for the 2017 Indian Premier League. In January 2018, he was bought for 80 lakh by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the 2018 IPL auction.

Suspension

On 30 May 2019, Singh was given a three-month suspension by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) after he took part in the Ramadan T20 Tournament in Abu Dhabi without seeking prior permission to play.

Indian Premier League from 2021

Singh was due to play for KKR in the 2021 Indian Premier League but he was ruled out by a knee injury and replaced by Gurkeerat Singh Mann. In February 2022, he was retained by KKR and played for them in IPL 2022. He earned his first Man of the Match award (and a cheque for one lakh) after he scored 42 runs in 23 balls against Rajasthan Royals. On 9 April 2023, Rinku achieved a record-breaking feat in an IPL match against Gujarat Titans, scoring five sixes in the final over to successfully chase down 29 runs – the highest-ever chase in the last over in the IPL tournament's history.

International career

On 18 August 2023, Singh made his international debut in the first Twenty20 International (T20I) against Ireland at The Village. In the next game, he scored a quick 38 before being dismissed by the last ball of the innings. On 23 November 2023, he scored 22 runs off 14 deliveries against Australia in the first T20I at Vishakhapatnam.

In November 2023, Singh was named in India's squad for their 2023–24 tour of South Africa. He made his One Day International (ODI) debut against South Africa on 19 December 2023. He scored 17 runs and took the wicket of Rassie van der Dussen. On 21 December 2023, he played a match winning knock against South Africa in 2nd One Day International (ODI) match.

On 17th January, against Afghanistan, he and Rohit Sharma stiched a 190* run partnership which is India's highest run partnership in T20I and highest run partnership for 5th wicket in the world.