Rinku Singh is one of the contenders to be on the flight to USA and West Indies as a part of India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad.
New Delhi: Amidst the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), the focus has gradually shifted to India’s T20 Word Cup 2024 squad announcement which could happen anytime on Tuesday. While the team is almost finalized, there are certain spots that need to be filled. Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan wished for his ‘chota bachcha’ to be on the flight to USA and West Indies as the KKR batter is one among the contenders to make it in the final 15.
Rinku has been with the KKR franchise since 2018 but made a name for himself in the last year when his five sixes in the final over against Gujarat Titans led his team to a thrilling win. Thereafter, the southpaw played a similar kind of innings in the tournament before finally landing a blue jersey on him on the tour of Ireland the same year. Life changed for Rinku for good as he proved his mettle for India.
The left-hander played 15 T20Is for India so far, with a strike rate of 176-plus and scored two fifties. In fact, his match-winning knocks against Australia have been the highlights of his short international career so far.
“Such amazing players are playing for the country. I am really looking forward to Rinku, Inshallah being in the World Cup Squad and some other youngsters from other teams also. Some of them deserve it so much, but my personal wish is that Rinku makes it to the team. I will be so happy. That will be the high point for me,” Shah Rukh Khan said in an interview with Star Sports.
However, in IPL 2024, Rinku did not have that much of opportunities with the bat as he would have liked with Phil Salt and Sunil Narine doing the bulk of the runs at the top. While everyone likes his range hitting, Rinku’s USP lies in remaining calm in pressure or stressful situations.
Shah Rukh, who shares a great rapport with Rinku, is actually delighted at his success. Coming from a humble background, where his father used to deliver LPG cylinders, Rinku followed his passion for cricket and it reaped great rewards for him. “I just want them to feel happy and when I see these boys playing, I feel like I am living as a sportsperson myself. Especially players like Rinku and Nitish (Rana), I see myself in them. I feel really happy when they perform well,” Shah Rukh said.
