IPL 2022 | 'This has been my dream for the past five years' - Rinku Singh

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ceased their 5-match losing streak against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) last night in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Rinku Singh displayed tremendous flair with his bat and emerged as a promising finisher for the franchise. 

KKR were chasing a target of 153 and had lost three early wickets for 92. After skipper Shreyas Iyer’s dismissal, the situation was looking grim for the franchise. However, Nitish Rana played a prime role in the win with a 48 not out, while Singh’s 42 off 23 ball score drove the team to victory.

Rinku impressed peers and fans alike with his composure at the crease. He had stepped onto the crease at a stressful moment in the match but kicked off his tally with a boundary on the first ball while commanding his partnership with Nitish Rana.

Singh, who comes from a humble background, spoke about his struggles and how he endured his journey. He stated that he had to wait five years to debut in the IPL. He also battled with an injury. His story is filled with hardships, struggles, rejection and unwavering self-belief and patience.

The BCCI served Rinku a three-month suspension for playing a T20 League in Abu Dhabi in 2019. But he made a comeback in the domestic tournaments for his team UP and made his way up to the Indian Premier League. It is stated that Rinku once almost quit cricket to work as domestic help to contribute to his family’s income.

Hailing from Aligarh, Rinku is the first from the city to participate in the highly celebrated league.

“A lot of players have played Ranji from Aligarh, but I am the first to play the IPL. This is the big leagues, and there is a lot of pressure, obviously. I have been waiting for the last five years to get a chance. I worked very hard, came back from injury and did well in the domestic circuit as well. When I was batting, Bhaiyya (Rana) and Baz (McCullum) told me to stay till the end and finish it."

Rinku got the breakthrough he deserved, but he also transpired as an inspiration and blazed a trail for young cricketers looking to make a similar impact on the grandest stage franchise cricket has to offer.