Rinku Singh Arrives In Style On The International Stage For India

Rinku Singh made his international debut for India in the 1st T20I vs Ireland on August 18. But sadly, due to rain, he was unable to get to bat. Come the 2nd game a couple of days later, Rinku got his chance and he certainly made it count.

AFP

Dream knock

The southpaw smashed 38 from just 21 balls. The innings contained 2 fours and 3 sixes. Rinku came into bat at the fall of the 3rd wicket in the 13th over. By the time he fell, India's score had breached the 180-mark. Rinku himself had a nice outing in his first international innings.

But these heroics should not come as a surprise. Rewind to the IPL a few months back and Rinku was talking the bowlers by storm. The man won games from hopeless positions and nearly took KKR into the playoffs.

There was a high demand to put him into the T20I squad and finally, it did happen. Now he has had his taste of international cricket and with the 2024 T20 World Cup less than a year away, it is time to groom him for the big event.

The man certainly arrived in style on the international stage. It remains to be seen if he can continue this form. The left-hander has a long way to go. But for now he is on the right track.

AFP

Humble start

Rinku grew up poor and had to struggle a lot.

¡°He always wanted to build a hostel for young players, who do not have financial resources to pursue their dreams. As he is financially sound now, he has decided to make it a reality,¡± said Rinku¡¯s childhood coach Masooduz-Zafar Amini had told The New Indian Express.

Rinku is the young man on whom the family depends. Not only is he doing that, but also chasing his dream.

The 20-year-old was roped in by Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 80 lakh at the 2018 IPL auction. This was something nobody expected.

Struggle

But Rinku's story is one of extreme hardship. The man hails from a family of 9, his father is a LPG cylinder delivery-man, according to a report in Indian Express.

Back in 2015, the family hit a debt of Rs 5 lakh. Rinku had to stop studying in Class 9 to support his parents and siblings. One brother drives an auto and the other teaches at a coaching centre.

After he started playing cricket in 2009, he slowly made it to the Ranji Trophy for Uttar Pradesh in 2016.

The money he earned from playing U-19 cricket for the state went to his family to pay off their debts. When the auction took place, they got a pleasant surprise when he was sold to KKR for such a high price in his context.