They say that ‘hard effort always pays off,’ and Rinku Singh is proof of that. His path to achievement has been long and challenging, but he has never considered quitting up.
After years of grinding in domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League (IPL), Rinku is finally getting his due. The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) batter had a breakthrough season in IPL 2023, amassing 474 runs in 14 games at an astronomical strike rate of almost 150.
The Aligarh-born cricketer made his T20I debut for India against Ireland. He was part of the Indian squad that won the gold medal in the recently concluded Asian Games in China. Rinku Singh has already enthralled fans with some breathtaking knocks in the IPL.
We recall his five finest IPL finishes as he celebrates his 26th birthday today (October 12).
5. 40 off 15 balls vs Lucknow Super Giants (IPL 2022)
Despite the fact that KKR lost, it was probably the start of the Rinku Singh era. Rinku smacked two sixes and a boundary off Marcus Stoinis with 21 needing off the final over to reduce the equation to five off three.
But the Australia all-rounder held his composure to take two wickets in the final two deliveries to help LSG win.
Despite losing, there was light at the end of the tunnel for Rinku, who demonstrated that he was destined for greatness. His 15-ball 40 had a strike rate of 266.66 and included two boundaries and four sixes.
4. 54 off 43 balls vs Chennai Super Kings (IPL 2023)
Rinku Singh delivered a brilliant knock to help the Knight Riders reclaim MA Chidambaram Stadium after an 11-year absence.
Kolkata got off to the worst possible start in their 145-run chase, stumbling to 33/3 after 4.3 overs. Rinku then teamed up with skipper Nitish Rana to get the side out of trouble, scoring 99 runs for the fourth wicket.
Rinku demonstrated his versatility by emphasizing the numbers one and two. The southpaw hit four boundaries and three sixes in his 54-ball innings before being caught short of his crease by Moeen Ali. Rana finished undefeated on 57 as KKR won by nine balls.
3. 21* off 10 balls vs Punjab Kings (IPL 2023)
Although Andre Russell received all the attention for his 42-run knock off 23 balls in Kolkata, Rinku Singh stayed unbroken to help his side win with an unbeaten 21 off 10 balls.
Despite hitting a boundary and a six to keep the team in the hunt, the left-handed batsman walked out in the middle of the 16th over and was mostly overshadowed by Russell’s heroics.
With Russell out in the last ball of the game and the side needing two runs, Rinku was put in charge. The Uttar Pradesh-born cricketer displayed his cool composure once more by guiding a wide yorker to the boundary beyond the point defender.
2. 67* off 33 balls vs Lucknow Super Giants (IPL 2023)
Rinku Singh’s stunning innings of 67 not out almost gave KKR victory over Lucknow Super Giants. Yash Thakur set him a difficult task of getting 20 runs in the last five balls. He smacked two sixes and a four, but fell one run short.
The youthful batter demonstrated his finishing ability, as he did before against the Gujarat Titans. In his 32-ball innings, he hit six fours and four sixes. His strike rate was more than 200, the greatest of any player.
Despite his efforts, KKR lost by a hair’s breadth. Rinku Singh, on the other hand, received applause from everyone for his daring batting. He established himself as a finisher for KKR.
1. 48* off 21 balls vs Gujarat Titans (IPL 2023)
With 28 runs needed off the final five pitches, not even the finest hitters on the club would have backed themselves to win. This is where Rinku Singh distinguishes himself from his colleagues.
He appeared confident and delivered, blasting five consecutive sixes off Yash Dayal to help KKR reach a 200-run goal in the 20th over.
Rinku’s undefeated 48 off 21 balls, featuring six maximums and one boundary, will live on in the hearts of fans and be discussed for a long time.
