Rinku Singh Doesn’t Want Fans to Label Him as ‘Just a T20 Player’

Over the last year, Rinku Singh's T20I batting average has fallen to 13.40 and his strike rate to 101.51, unacceptable numbers for a finisher.

Rinku Singh Doesn’t Want Fans to Label Him as ‘Just a T20 Player’

Rinku Singh shared his ambition about playing Test cricket for India in the future. (via News 18)

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Ace Indian middle-order batter and finisher Rinku Singh, most recently, opened up about his aspirations as an Indian cricketer in the future. The 27-year-old noted that he does not wish to be labelled only as a short-format player, and aims to gain recognition in the longest format as well. 

Rinku Singh burst onto the scene following his heroics during the 2023 IPL season, most notably the five consecutive sixes he hit off Yash Dayal in a match against Gujarat Titans. The Kolkata Knight Riders star finished that season with a career-high 474 runs. Singh made his T20I debut soon after in 2023, and quickly became a fan favorite, as he hit 479 runs in just 19 innings at an average of 59.87 until 2024. 

The 27-year-old’s selection in the 2025 Asia Cup squad has raised eyebrows, owing to a recent slump in form. While Rinku enjoyed a brilliant debut year for India, his numbers have plummeted since the series against Bangladesh last year, managing only 67 runs in seven matches since then. Rinku Singh’s numbers in the IPL have not been impressive either, as he only notched up 206 runs during the 2025 season.

Despite this, the Uttar Pradesh cricketer remains confident in his ability to make a strong comeback at the Asia Cup. Rinku’s optimism is backed by his numbers in the ongoing UPT20 league, where he has amassed over 300 runs, including a century. The 27-year-old recently revealed he does not want to be tagged only as a T20 specialist, and shared his ambitions to play for the Indian Test side in the future.

Rinku Singh highlighted his brilliant numbers in red-ball cricket and his affection for Test matches. The KKR star shared the belief that he can contribute to the national team across all formats, and reflected on his performance in the two ODIs he featured in.

Rinku Singh shared his ambition of being a part of India’s future World Cup squads, noting that a strong performance at the Asia Cup would significantly boost his chances for a spot in the 2026 T20 World Cup squad. Singh told Times of India:

So, it’s not like I’m only a T20 player. I believe I can perform in every format if I get the chance. I don’t like being tagged as a one-format player; I see myself as an all-format player. My dream is to play Test cricket for India.

Rinku’s desire to play red-ball cricket seems to be a justified one, with his numbers in first-class cricket a testament of his talent. In 50 matches, the Uttar Pradesh batter boasts 3,336 runs at a brilliant average of 54.68, hitting seven hundreds and 22 fifties.

Rinku Singh Opens Up on His Bond with Head Coach Gautam Gambhir, From KKR to Team India

Among the many players that Gautam Gambhir has backed since taking over as Team India head coach last year, one of those names is that of Rinku Singh. The 27-year-old batter was a key member of the Kolkata Knight Riders squad that clinched the 2024 IPL trophy under Gambhir’s mentorship.

Rinku Singh on Gautam Gambhir influence
Rinku Singh talked about the enduring influence that Gautam Gambhir had on his career. (via Zee News)

Rinku Singh has made it into the Indian squad for the upcoming 2025 Asia Cup, ahead of several in-form stars like Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal. While Iyer and Jaiswal were left out due to the vast talent pool, many believe that Rinku was selected due to Gambhir’s influence on squad selection. The KKR star was even chosen ahead of other in-form finishers, like Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma.

Rinku Singh, in a recent conversation with Times of India, revealed that he has been consistently backed by the current India head coach. He talked about the bond that he shares with the 43-year-old, while noting the support that he has received from him since his early breakout days. Rinku Singh expressed the privilege of sharing a dressing room with a cricketing legend like Gautam Gambhir.

GG sir [Gautam Gambhir] has always backed me and supported me a lot… It’s a special feeling to share the dressing room with a legend like GG sir.

Not just Rinku Singh, but another player who Gautam Gambhir has backed made it into the 2025 Asia Cup squad, 23-year-old young pacer Harshit Rana. Additionally, spinner Varun Chakravarthy, another player from the KKR, has also secured a spot in the squad.

Also Read: MS Dhoni to Become Team India’s Mentor Ahead of T20 World Cup 2026? Ex-India Cricketer Chimes In