Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) batter Rinku Singh has stated that he is not distracted by the ongoing discussions about the team’s captaincy for the upcoming IPL 2025. Rinku Singh said that his primary goal is to help Uttar Pradesh win the title in the Vijay Hazare Trophy since their last win in 2015-16.
The defending IPL champions released Shreyas Iyer, who led them to victory last season and have not yet announced a captain. Ajinkya Rahane is a top contender, with Venkatesh Iyer another option. Meanwhile, Rinku has been appointed as the captain of Uttar Pradesh for the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Not Thinking Too Much About the Captaincy of KKR – Rinku Singh
Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Rinku Singh said that he is not focused on the KKR captaincy for the upcoming IPL season. Rinku added that he is concentrating on helping his state team win the trophy. It is worth mentioning that this will be the first time Rinku will lead a state team at the senior level.
“I am not thinking too much about the captaincy of KKR in the new IPL season. I am focused on my plans for Uttar Pradesh, as I want my team to regain the trophy we had won for the first time in 2015-16,” Rinku stated.
Rinku Singh replaced Bhuvneshwar Kumar as the captain of Uttar Pradesh. Bhuvneshwar led the team in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where they lost in the quarter-finals. Earlier this year, Rinku led Meerut Mavericks to victory in the UPT20 League and scored 210 runs in nine innings at a strike rate of 161.54.
Now I Am Focusing on My Bowling Too – Rinku Singh
Rinku Singh hinted at taking on a new role in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy. The 27-year-old cricketer said that he has been focusing on his bowling skills after experimenting with off-spin during the UPT20 League.
“I did try my hand at bowling [offspin] too at the UPT20 league. Present-day cricket demands a full package – a cricketer who can bat, bowl, and field. Now I am focusing on my bowling too. As captain of Uttar Pradesh, I have got a bigger role to play, and I’m ready for this,” Rinku said.
“I didn’t even think of being part of team India when I struck five consecutive sixes in the IPL last year. That turned out to be the biggest game-changer in my life. Even now I feel that if God has decided something for me, I will get that surely. But at the same time, I also need to work hard on my job,” he added.
Rinku Singh Has Been with Kolkata Knight Riders Since 2018
Rinku, who made his international debut in 2023, has played in two ODIs and 30 T20Is. The left-handed batter has scored 55 runs in ODIs with a strike rate of 134.15 and 507 runs in T20Is at a strike rate of 166.15.
Kolkata Knight Riders are facing a tough decision regarding their IPL 2025 captaincy, and Rinku is a strong contender. The southpaw has been with the franchise since 2018 and was one of the six players retained by KKR ahead of the IPL Auction, which took place in Jeddah.
Also read: ICC Champions Trophy 2025 schedule, venues sealed; India vs Pakistan to be played at..
