Rinku Singh, the newest star of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), made headlines in the IPL by securing an improbable victory against Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad. Singh shared that his aspiration is to represent India, taking inspiration from his idol Suresh Raina. The feat achieved by Singh, hitting five successive sixes with his team requiring 28 runs from the final five balls, would have been deemed unlikely by even the world’s top batsmen.
Nonetheless, Rinku Singh accomplished a remarkable feat by leading his team to victory, delivering an exceptional innings that will be etched in people’s memories for years to come. Scoring an unbeaten 48 off just 21 balls, which featured six sixes and a boundary, Singh propelled KKR to successfully chase down a target of over 200 runs. This triumph against GT is perhaps one of the most sensational and unexpected victories in IPL history, especially since the opposition’s stand-in captain, Rashid Khan, had almost secured the win with the season’s first hat-trick.
In an interview with India Today, Rinku Singh expressed his aspirations of representing India, while also emphasizing his current focus on the IPL. Singh aims to continue his impressive performances for KKR and contribute to their victories. His role model in cricket has been Suresh Raina, who he admires for his excellent fielding skills and batting prowess as a lower-order batsman, a position which Singh himself occupies.
Rinku’s tale is a classic ‘rags to riches’ story, given that KKR acquired him for a mere INR 55 lakh. However, what makes his journey truly exceptional is that his impressive performance on Sunday evening was the result of years of tireless effort and dedication on his part, combined with the unwavering support and belief from the KKR franchise.
Hailing from a lower-middle-class family in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, Rinku faced financial difficulties when his father, who worked as a delivery man for LPG cylinders, incurred a debt of INR 5 lakh during the 2015-16 season. To help his family, Rinku saved money from his daily allowance and even took on the role of a domestic worker, which involved tasks such as sweeping and mopping.
When asked about his background, Rinku Singh revealed, “My father faced numerous struggles as we come from a family of farmers. Every time I hit the ball out of the park, I do it in honor of the people who made tremendous sacrifices for me.”