KKR vs SRH: Rinku Singh issues an official statement after being left out of India's T20 World Cup Squad
Published - 21 May 2024, 12:04 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:12 AM
Kolkata Knight Riders batter Rinku Singh opened up about his omission from the Indian squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, set to take place in June. Rinku Singh remains determined to fulfill his dream of lifting the World Cup trophy despite being left out of the World Cup squad.
Rinku Singh failed to make it into the 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC season. CSK all-rounder Shivam Dube was preferred over Rinku in the World Cup squad. However, Rinku was included in the four-member reserve player list along with Shubman Gill, Khaleel Ahmed, and Avesh Khan.
The 26-year-old made his international debut for India in a T20I match against Ireland in 2023. The left-handed batter has scored 356 runs in 15 games at an impressive average of 89.00 and a strike rate of 176.24. He has demonstrated his ability against the best death bowlers over the past two years.
I Am Going To The World Cup - Rinku Singh
In a video on the IPL website, Rinku Singh expressed his aspiration to win major trophies for India, stating that he wants to hold the World Cup trophy. Rinku stated that he has to overcome a bad phase.
"Since I have played cricket, I have won some trophies at junior level. But not at the senior level. I am going to the World Cup. I want to hold the WC trophy, I hope we win. My dream is to win a big trophy for my country and lift it in my hands," said Rinku.
"Time kharab uska hota hai jiske haath pair nahi hote, hamare toh hain. Hamara time kharab nahi hai," he added.
Rinku Singh struggled to make an impact with the bat in the Indian Premier League 2024 season. The southpaw scored 168 runs in 11 innings at an average of 18.67 and a strike rate of 148.67, with a best score of 26. He didn't get many opportunities to bat due to the strong KKR batting lineup.
After Those Five Sixes, My Life Changed - Rinku Singh
Rinku Singh reflected on hitting five successive sixes against the Gujarat Titans in the final over during the last season. The young batter stated how his life changed after that moment, receiving opportunities and gaining recognition.
"I used to be wondering all the time if I would get to play further. I used to tell myself that I would do well in the next game and I should keep working hard. I kept working hard. After those five sixes, my life changed."
"I started getting ads. People started to recognize me. Now I cannot go out alone. It feels good when hoardings of my name are there when people scream my name. I feel that I have done something in my life," Rinku stated.
"People ask me if Rinku is indeed my name or a name used by my loved ones at home. I tell them it is my real name. Many people tell me that girls are given this name," he further added.
Rinku Singh will be next seen in action when the Kolkata Knight Riders face Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 'Qualifier 1' match at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, May 21. The match between both teams, known for their aggressive batting, promises to be an exciting encounter.
Also read: KKR vs SRH: "Kolkata Knight Riders are going in the final" - Wasim Akram makes bold prediction