Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) batting star Rinku Singh caught the eye of all Indian Premier League (IPL) fans this season with brilliant performances all through the season.
He scored 474 runs in 14 matches and was the highest scorer of KKR this season.
MORE: Latest betting odds for IPL 2023
His performance in the IPL has now earned him a call-up in the Indian cricket team for the upcoming Asian Games.
Which state is Rinku Singh from?
Rinku Singh hails from the state of Uttar Pradesh (UP) in India. He was born in the city of Aligarh on 12 October 1997 and is currently 25 years old.
MORE: How to watch IPL 2023 season online and on TV | Full list of players and teams for IPL 2023
Which Ranji Trophy team does Rinku Singh play for?
Singh made his Ranji Trophy debut for Uttar Pradesh on 5 November 2016. During the 2018-19 Ranji season, he was their top runscorer with 953 runs in ten games.
Who is Rinku Singh? Five facts about the Kolkata Knight Riders youngster
- Humble background: Like most Indian cricketers, Singh also comes from a humble hard-working family. His father delivers LPG gas cylinders while his brother works as an auto driver. It has been a tough journey for the KKR batsman, but with his IPL career, he has been able to provide a comfortable life for his parents and siblings.
- Almost quit cricket: There was a moment in Singh's life when he gave up on pursuing cricket as his family was in debt. The only job that he was getting was that of a sweeper, which he quickly left to once again pursue his passion.
- Bought for 80 lakhs by KKR: During the 2018 IPL auction, KKR bought Singh for 80 lakhs citing the potential he had. The player was surprised and elated by the fee paid for him by the franchise, as it meant he could now take care of his family.
- Third-highest scorer in the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy: The coaching and tips he got during his first season at KKR paid off (despite the campaign not going well) when he registered 953 runs in 10 innings during the 2018-19 Ranji season, making him the batsman with third-most runs that term.
- Suspended in 2019: The lowest point of Singh's career was when a suspension of three months was imposed on him by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in 2019, for playing in the Ramadan T20 Tournament in Abu Dhabi without asking for prior permission from the BCCI.