Had to bat in lower order due to team combination, couldn’t do much good for KKR in IPL 2024: Rinku Singh

Rinku Singh. (Source -IPL/BCCI)

Rinku Singh said that he batted in the lower order for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 because of the team combination. He played a few impactful cameos but couldn’t replicate his heroics from the 2023 season, where he batted in the middle order.

Rinku amassed 474 runs at an average of 59.25 and a strike rate of 149.53 in IPL 2023 and was one of the rare bright spots for KKR in their dismal campaign. He was subsequently rewarded for his stellar performances, as he made his debut in the two white-ball formats for India. The southpaw scored plenty of runs for the Men in Blue in the shortest format of the game and it was expected that he would be a certainty in India’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2024.

However, he didn’t get too many opportunities to bat for KKR in IPL 2024 and was left out of India’s 15-man squad for the marquee ICC event. Rinku managed only 168 runs from 14 matches in IPL 2024 at an average of 18.67. Shivam Dube made great use of his opportunities with the bat for Chennai Super Kings and found a place in the Indian team ahead of the diminutive cricketer. After KKR beat Sunrisers Hyderabad to win their third IPL title, Rinku said that he batted lower down the order because it was in the best interest of his team. The southpaw admitted that he couldn’t do justice to his immense talent in IPL 2024.

“Yes, we can say this. Because of the team combination and in the interest of the team, I was put down to bat. This decision was taken keeping in mind what was good for the team. This time, even though I batted in many matches, I could not do much good for the team, which is true. Now it doesn’t matter whether batting came or not. It was because of the team combination that I was dropped down the batting order. What about us batters? Batting keeps coming,” Rinku said in an interview with Jagran.

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Rinku was retained by KKR for Rs 55 lakh ahead of the IPL 2024 auction. During the auction, the Knights bought Mitchell Starc for a record-shattering Rs 24.75 crore. Rinku was asked whether he would have been picked for crores had he been in the auction. The 26-year-old came up with a very mature and humble answer, as he said that people should learn to find happiness in whatever God is giving them.

“Sir, 50-55 lakhs is also a lot. When I started, I didn’t even think that I would earn so much. At that time, when I was a child, I felt that if I could get even Rs 10-5, I would do it somehow. Now getting Rs 55 lakh is a lot, one should be happy with whatever God gives. This is my thinking. I don’t feel at all that I should have received this much money and that much. I am very happy even with Rs 55 lakh. When this did not happen, then it was known how much money is worth,” Rinku said.

I want to play all formats: Rinku Singh

Rinku was asked about his mindset when he goes to the crease. The Aligarh-born said that he tries to bat according to the situation of the match. He was also asked whether he has aspirations to play Test cricket as well. To this, Rinku replied in the affirmative, saying that he wants to play in all three formats for India.

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“Whenever I go to bat, I bat according to the match. The aim is to bat according to the conditions. I try to bat as per the requirement of the team. I want to play in all formats. Recently I got the opportunity to play ODI in South Africa. I am working hard, please pray that I get a chance to play Test soon. The biggest cricket is Test cricket. Everyone plays T-20, not everyone gets a chance in Test. My aim is to play Test cricket,” Rinku stated.