Rinku Singh had made his IPL debut for KKR back in 2018. But in his first three seasons he featured in only 10 matches. Then, in IPL 2022, as KKR struggled, they gave Rinku Singh more chances in the lower-order and he played in 7 matches last year.
In IPL 2023, after his impressive domestic performances and seeing his talent and capability as a finisher, Rinku this year got his first full season in the IPL. And the left-hander wreaked havoc on the field with his sizzling, ferocious, clean-hitting, especially against the pacers in this year’s IPL season.
Rinku Singh’s stunning power-hitting in the IPL 2023 was rewarded with him being named in the India’s second-string squad for the Asian Games 2023 in China in September-October.
Wishes have been pouring in for the 25-year-old Rinku from all quarters for his maiden India call-up, and he’s been giving a line of interviews.
In an interview with the sports website RevSportz, Rinku Singh revealed a crucial role played by former India players Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh in his success in recent years.
Rinku Singh and Suresh Raina both hail from Uttar Pradesh
Both have became close in recent years and Raina has been a singificant contributor to Rinku’s batting improvements. Rinku said that Raina is his idol and both regularly talk about his batting.
“Suresh Raina has been my idol. I am regularly in touch with him. He is the IPL King and he keeps sharing his inputs with me. He has helped me a lot in my career. Bhajju pa (Harbhajan Singh) has also helped me a lot in my career. I am grateful for their support and whenever such big players talk about you, it motivates you to push yourself more,” Rinku Singh elaborated.
Rinku Singh had his breakthrough IPL season this year as he finished as KKR’s highest-run-scorer with 474 runs at an average of 59 and strike rate of 149. The southpaw gave one of the greatest moments in IPL history when he smacked Dayal for 5 sixes in 5 balls when 28 runs were needed in 5 balls.
“IPL was great. Those five weeks were unforgettable. I feel, whoever knows me today is because of those five weeks and I am grateful about it. But in my mind, those five weeks, the IPL I had, those are the things of the past, I have forgotten that.
“Now I am back to my daily process. The routine is back, the gym sessions, the net sessions – everything is back to normal. Whatever I am working on is for the future now. Hopefully, I will be able to do well whatever chances I get in the future,” Rinku added.
