Rinku Singh
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YEAR-WISE DEVELOPMENTS
As in 2023 April
Devendra Pandey, April 10, 2023: The Indian Express
A small two-room quarters within the premises of an LPG distribution company’s storage compound near Aligarh stadium has become the talk of the town. It’s the house of Rinku Singh, who on Sunday became the talk of the world as he smashed five successive sixes in the final over to win a thriller for Kolkata Knight Riders against Gujarat Titans.
On Sunday, Rinku’s unbeaten 48 off 21 deliveries won the match for Kolkata which appeared lost only three overs ago when Rashid Khan had taken a hat-trick. Almost everyone had given up, except Rinku. Having played second fiddle to Shardul Thakur in the previous match, he was the hero in Ahmedabad on Sunday. The IPL has seen many stunning comebacks, it is the grand theatre after all, but in 15 seasons, none had seen something like Rinku. He became the first batter to hit five successive sixes off the final over to win a match.
Rinku’s father Khanchandra delivers LPG cylinders to homes, an elder brother drives an autorickshaw while another brother works in a coaching centre. It’s the stuff of IPL dreams — rags to riches story that we hear from time to time. Rinku was bought by KKR for Rs 80 lakhs after a pitched battle with Mumbai Indians, who too seemed intent on getting the all-rounder in the full fledged player auctions in 2022.
When the two big franchises were fighting for him, Rinku was at his home, watching the dream unfold live on the telly. “Socha tha 20 lakh mein jaoonga, (thought I would get 20 lakhs), but I was picked up for 80! The first thought that came to the mind was that I can contribute in my big brother’s wedding, and save up something for my sister’s wedding too. Aur ek achhe se ghar mein shift ho jaoonga.”
The third of five siblings, Rinku has seen some tough times. Three years ago, his family was in a debt of Rs five lakhs, and struggling to pay back. It was beyond the means of the money-earners in the family, and Rinku wasn’t academically good – “Ninth fail” he says. He knew his only chance lay in cricket.
He saved up his modest daily allowances received while representing the UP Under-19 team, and other representation money from cricket. It all went in repaying the debts. Two years ago, he was in the reckoning for the India U19 side, but Rinku couldn’t make the cut for the ICC U19 World Cup.
“Father used to earn some Rs 6-7 thousand monthly, as was the elder brother. My family is a bit big and I had no option other than to focus hard on cricket. Life mein struggle bahut kiya, may be God is repaying for those days,” he says.
Rinku’s family too started believing him when he won a motorcycle after bagging the man-of-the-series award in a tournament in Delhi. The motorcycle was soon put to use to deliver his father’s cylinders across Aligarh.
Not that things turned overnight after that. Once he asked his brother to help him find a job. “He took me to a place where they asked me to be a domestic worker — saaf, safaai aur pochaa maarna (sweeping and mopping). I came back home and told my morther, ‘I will not go again. Let me just try my luck in cricket.”
Despite being a good performer in the domestic circuit, he was going noticed. In 2021, Punjab Kings had roped him in, but he ended up warming the bench. Then luck turned again when Mumbai Indians called him for a selection trial where he slammed a 31-ball 91 runs.
“I think that knock made an impact. My domestic season had gone fine and I was hoping that someone might take me but never thought I will go for such a huge money. Mere khaandan mein itna paisa kisene bhi nahi dekha hai (No one in my clan has seen so much money),” he adds.
August 2023
August 23, 2023: The Times of India
Dublin: He has played just a couple of international matches so far but Rinku Singh is already a popular name among Indian fans thanks to his five successive sixes in IPL 2023. Pl aying for Kolkata Knight Riders, he smashed five sixes in the final over against Gujarat Titans to steer his side to a sensational win.
Recalling the same, Rinku said that moment changed his life forever. “Those five sixes changed my life. People remember me for that moment. I was feeling great when they took my name and the love they hav e been showering me with,” he said during an interaction with his Indian teammate Ravi Bishnoi on BCCI.
Rinku earned his maiden India call-up for the ongoing T20I series in Ireland, where he has featured in both matches so far, scoring 38 runs in an innings at a strike-rate of 180. 90. Speaking about his style of batting, Rinku stated that he always intends to bat until the end, going for the big hits in the closing stages of the match.
“I was incredibly excited to bat in the opening contest (1st T20I). But it’s fine (that rain washed out the play). We won,” he said.
“I always plan to bat till the end, like I do in IPL. I was going for my shots in the final two-three overs. The plan is to stay cool and ca lm, and that’s what I was doing. ”
PTI
