Rinku Singh sent a big statement of intent just days after making the Asia Cup 2025 squad as the left-handed batter slammed a stunning century in the UPT20 League. Representing Meerut Mavericks, Rinku Singh slammed 108 off just 48 deliveries with the help of 7 fours and 8 sixes against Gorakhpur Lions.
It has not been a great year for Rinku Singh but the batter looked in sublime form. Chasing 168, Mavericks were struggling at 38/4 but Rinku Singh stood tall to guide his team to victory. This was just the second fifty-plus score for Rinku Singh in the past 12 matches and it came at the perfect time for his Asia Cup preparation. Despite an underwhelming run with the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, Rinku Singh still remained in the grand scheme of things.
When Rinku Singh burst onto the scene with a brilliant 474-run IPL season for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2023, it felt like the sky was the limit for the young cricketer from Uttar Pradesh. Rinku Singh’s breakthrough was swift—earning an India call-up for the Ireland tour the same year—and his early outings in T20Is only reinforced the belief that a long, bright career awaited him in national colours.
Yet, the promise has dimmed far too quickly. When Rinku Singh was named only as a travelling reserve for the 2024 T20 World Cup, many questioned why such a consistent performer was sidelined. At that time, it seemed harsh, even unjust, given how little there was to fault in his international record. The belief lingered that his moment would eventually come.
But instead of rising further, Rinku Singh’s graph has dipped noticeably. Now, just a year later, he isn’t even a certainty in India’s squad for the upcoming Asia Cup. And the disappointment is that some of the struggles are of his own making.The fearless, free-flowing Rinku Singh who lit up stadiums two summers ago has looked out of touch for both India and the Knight Riders, leaving fans to wonder whether the spark that once promised so much is slipping away too soon.
Rinku Singh – Tale of two halves
Rinku Singh’s T20I career so far can almost be split into two contrasting halves. The first half was a dream run, a golden phase where everything he touched seemed to turn into runs. Until the T20I series against Bangladesh last year, Rinku Singh’s numbers were nothing short of phenomenal — 479 runs from 19 innings at an average of 59.87 and a staggering strike-rate of 175.45, with three fifties to his name. At that point, he looked unstoppable, India’s next great T20 finisher in the making.
But what followed has been a sharp and worrying dip. Since that high, Rinku Singh has struggled to rediscover his rhythm, and the slump has been glaring. In India’s last two bilateral T20I series against South Africa and England, he endured a nightmare.
Across seven games, the left-hander managed just 67 runs at a meagre average of 13.40, with his strike-rate plummeting to an underwhelming 101.51. The South Africa tour was especially painful to watch — Rinku Singh scraped together only 28 runs at an average of 9.33, striking at a disastrous 82.35.
What has gone wrong with a batter who once looked untouchable. Has the pressure of expectations weighed him down, or have bowlers simply figured him out too quickly
Rinku Singh in T20Is until October 12, 2024
Matches: 26, Innings: 19, Not Outs: 11, Runs: 479, Highest Score: 69, Average: 59.87, Strike-rate: 175.45, Hundreds: 0, Fifties: 3
Rinku Singh in T20Is from October 13, 2024
Matches: 7, Innings: 5, Not Out: 0, Runs: 67, Highest Score: 30, Average: 13.40, Strike-rate: 101.51, Hundreds: 0, Fifties: 0
Poor IPL seasons not helping Rinku
Apart from international cricket, Rinku Singh hasn’t really found his spark in the IPL either. What went wrong for one of India’s most exciting finishers? In IPL 2024, he endured a nightmare run — just 168 runs at a meagre average of 18.66. The season before wasn’t much brighter, with only 206 runs at 29.42. Even more alarming, Rinku Singh hasn’t crossed fifty in his last 28 IPL outings.
The main contributor behind Rinku Singh’s dwindling form is the position that he has batted in. With the IPL allowing for a substitution in their line-up, it has seldom occurred that Rinku Singh has come out to bat at 4 or 5.In only one game in the entirety of IPL 2025, Rinku Singh batted at No. 4. In most of the matches, he batted at No. 6, and sometimes was even demoted to No. 7 and No. 8 positions in the line-up.
It was only once in IPL 2025 that Rinku played more than 20 balls. That game yielded him results, where he was able to score 36 runs at a strike rate of 144. KKR won that match. The game after that, Rinku once again lit up the crowd with an innings of 19* off 10 balls against Rajasthan Royals, a game that KKR won by just a single run. However, Rinku was dropped to No. 7 and No. 8 right after that. The lack of playtime hurt his confidence in the IPL, something from which he was not able to recover.
Rinku Singh’s IPL career in brief since 2022
2025 – Matches: 13, Runs: 206, Avg: 29.42, Highest Score: 38*
2024 – Matches: 15, Runs: 168, Avg: 18.66, Highest Score: 26
2023 – Matches: 14, Runs: 474, Avg: 59.25, Highest Score: 67*
2022 – Matches: 7, Runs: 174, Avg: 34.80, Highest Score: 42*
Despite this slump in form , Rinku Singh finds a supporter in Murali Karthik who believes that Rinku Singh should make it to the Playing XI in the Asia Cup 2025.
Murali Kartik has been standout performer- Murali Kartik
Former cricketer Murali Kartik has opened up about the various permutations and combinations that India will have at their disposalwhile choosing the Playing XI in the Asia Cup 2025. The 48-year – old has said that Shubman Gill’s elevation to vice-captaincy has meant that players like Rinku Singh are doubtful to get a spot in the Playing XI.
Murali Kartik said that India had a problem of plenty, but was assured that things would sort itself out soon. He told Cricbuzz :
“Rinku has been your standout performer at that number. He’s been Icerink. 100% (It is a problem of plenty for India). Sometimes you are playing the conditions as well. The last time we went to Dubai, everybody was complaining that India has so many spinners. Even now, we have some quality spinners, quality all-rounders. It is the problem of plenty which we are talking about.”
“Reports we are getting is that Jitesh Sharma is getting a lot of practice as a wicketkeeper, and now that Shubman Gill is in the team, he’s been elevated to vice-captaincy, and the kind of form he has shown for the Gujarat Titans, he’s a class act. So if he gets to play, think of all the other permutations and combinations you need to come up with. Think of Rinku Singh. Does he get a game?”
Murali Kartik felt that while India did face a problem of plenty right now, the likes of Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar would find a solution soon. He felt that it was better for India to have such an issue rather than a fewer players to chose from
“The number of names Harsha mentioned, maybe there are a few more that we are missing. That is what Gautam Gambhir has to contend with. That is what Ajit Agarkar has to contend with. It is just a good place to be.
I know that, at the end of the day, too many options are also a problem because you are trying to get the best fit there. But you would rather have that than not have the options. It will take a while, but I am pretty sure the braintrust will get it right in the end,” Kartik said.
The Men in Blue will kick off their Asia Cup campaign against the UAE on September 10, while the high-voltage game against arch-rivals Pakistan is scheduled for September 14, with both fixtures set to be played in Dubai. Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav and Co. will play their final group stage fixture against Oman on September 19 in Abu Dhabi.
Also Read: ENG vs IND : Shubman Gill Appointed Test Skipper For Red Ball