Rise of Cricketer Rinku Singh

New Delhi 10 April (VNI) Rinku Singh, a talented cricketer from a modest background, has had to overcome various challenges to reach where he is today. While his father works as an LPG cylinder delivery person and his older brother drives an auto-rickshaw, Rinku struggled with academics and failed the ninth grade. Despite this, he pursued cricket relentlessly, as it was his passion.

Rinku's family was in debt, and he had to contribute his earnings from cricket to help pay off their debts. At one point, he even considered giving up his dream and sought his brother's help in finding a job. However, he could only find work as a domestic helper. Nonetheless, he refused to give up and persisted with his hard work.

In 2018, Rinku's perseverance finally paid off when he was sought after by both the Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders at the IPL auction. KKR won the bidding war and signed the talented 20-year-old for a whopping Rs. 80 lakh, which was much more than Rinku had anticipated. He was overjoyed at the thought of being able to contribute to his family's financial needs and provide for his siblings' weddings.

Rinku began his cricket journey approximately a decade ago, and in 2013, he was chosen to represent Uttar Pradesh's under-16 team. A few years later, he was also selected for the under-19 squad for his talent as an aggressive batsman. He showcased his potential as a player during a camp hosted by the Mumbai Indians in 2013 when he smashed a magnificent 95 off just 31 deliveries.

In 2017, Kings XI Punjab acquired Rinku's services for his base price of Rs. 10 lakhs. However, at the 2018 auction, Rinku's value soared, and he was sold to KKR for Rs. 80 lakhs, four times his base price of Rs. 20 lakhs. Although he only scored 29 runs in the four games he played, KKR decided to retain him as a destructive middle-order bat. In 2022, Rinku was given more opportunities than in previous seasons, and he capitalized on them. He scored 172 runs at a decent average of 174 and nearly pulled off a spectacular run chase against the Lucknow Super Giants with a superb 15-ball 40, although KKR lost by two runs.