Five balls changed Rinku Singh place in Indian cricket.On April 9, 2023, Kolkata Knight Riders needed 28 runs from the final five balls against Gujarat Titans. Rinku then hit Yash Dayal for five consecutive sixes and finished the chase with 48* from 21 balls. KKR scored 31 in the last over, including 30 from Rinku, to win by three wickets. It remains the defining moment of his career.
But the Rinku Singh biography is about much more than those five sixes. The left-handed batter had already built a serious domestic record for Uttar Pradesh before becoming an IPL star. He later broke into India T20I side, became a regular KKR finisher and, by 2026, had added a leadership role with the franchise.
As of September 29, 2026, Rinku Singh is 28 years old, remains with Kolkata Knight Riders and has 702 T20I runs for India. His latest international appearance came against Zimbabwe on July 26, 2026.
Rinku Singh Biography and Personal Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Rinku Khanchand Singh |
| Date of Birth | October 12, 1997 |
| Age | 28 years |
| Birthplace | Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Role | Batter |
| Batting Style | Left-handed |
| Bowling Style | Right-arm off-break |
| IPL Team | Kolkata Knight Riders |
| Jersey Number | 35 |
| T20I Debut | August 18, 2023 vs Ireland |
| ODI Debut | December 19, 2023 vs South Africa |
Rinku Singh was born in Aligarh and grew up in a large family. Cricket was not an easy path financially, and his father worked as an LPG deliveryman. Cricbuzz describes Rinku as the third of five siblings and notes that he came through Uttar Pradesh age-group system before establishing himself in senior cricket.
His natural game has always been built around strong ball-striking. He bats left-handed and is officially listed as a batter who also bowls right-arm off-break. That secondary skill has occasionally produced useful wickets, particularly in T20 cricket.
Domestic Career: Where Rinku Singh Built His Reputation
Rinku white-ball domestic career began with Uttar Pradesh in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2014. He gradually became one of the state side more dependable middle-order batters and also developed a strong first-class record.
The standout domestic season came in the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy, when he scored 953 runs in 13 innings at an average of 105.88, with four centuries and three fifties. His highest score that season was an unbeaten 163. The Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association records him as one of the leading run-scorers for the state in that campaign.
His List A numbers also received plenty of attention. In the 2021-22 Vijay Hazare Trophy, Rinku scored 379 runs in six innings, including a century and four fifties, at a strike rate of 94.75. Those performances showed that his finishing ability was not limited to the IPL.
The importance of that domestic work is easy to miss when the five-six hits dominate the headlines. Rinku had already spent years producing runs for Uttar Pradesh before his biggest IPL moment arrived.
For readers interested in the next generation of Indian batting talent, our Vaibhav Sooryavanshi biography covers another young batter who has quickly attracted national attention.
Rinku Singh IPL Journey
Rinku Singh IPL story started in 2017, when Kings XI Punjab, now Punjab Kings, bought him for ₹10 lakh. He did not play a match that season.
Kolkata Knight Riders then bought him for ₹80 lakh at the 2018 auction, and that move eventually changed his career. KKR retained him after his first season, although opportunities remained limited during his early years.
His breakthrough began in 2022. Rinku scored 174 runs and produced several important finishes, including 42 from 23 balls against Rajasthan Royals for his first IPL Player of the Match award.
Then came 2023.
The Five-Sixes Night
Against Gujarat Titans, KKR were chasing 205. Umesh Yadav took a single from the first ball of the final over, leaving Rinku with 28 runs required from five deliveries.
Rinku did the rest.
He hit five straight sixes against Yash Dayal and ended unbeaten on 48 from 21 balls, with six sixes overall. Official IPL records state that KKR took 31 runs from the last over, turning a near-impossible chase into one of the league most memorable finishes.
The 2023 season as a whole was excellent. Rinku finished with 474 runs, a strike rate of about 149.5 and four fifties, making him KKR leading run-scorer that year.
His role then became much clearer. Rather than simply being a hard-hitting lower-order option, he developed into a specialist finisher who could build an innings when needed and accelerate heavily at the death.
Fans who enjoy stories about T20 finishing and power hitting can also read our Kieron Pollard biography, which covers one of the format most recognised finishers.
Rinku Singh IPL Stats by Season
Here is his IPL batting record through the 2026 season:
| Season | Matches | Runs | Highest | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 4 | 29 | 16 | 93.54 |
| 2019 | 5 | 37 | 30 | 108.82 |
| 2020 | 1 | 11 | 11 | 100.00 |
| 2021 | Did not play | — | — | — |
| 2022 | 7 | 174 | 42* | 148.72 |
| 2023 | 14 | 474 | 67* | 149.53 |
| 2024 | 15 | 168 | 26 | 148.67 |
| 2025 | 13 | 206 | 38* | 153.73 |
| 2026 | 14 | 295 | 83* | 148.99 |
| IPL Career | 73 | 1,394 | 83* | 145.97 |
The current player statistics list 1,394 IPL runs, six fifties and 67 sixes overall. The 2026 season was particularly strong by average: Rinku scored 295 runs in 14 appearances and was dismissed only five times, leaving him with an average of 59.00.
His best score in IPL 2026 was 83*, and he also made unbeaten innings of 53 against Rajasthan Royals and 49 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru during the season.
Rinku Singh and KKR in IPL 2026
Rinku remained a Kolkata Knight Riders player in 2026 after the franchise retained him ahead of the auction. KKR official retention list included him among the players kept for the season, and his contract value was ₹13 crore.
The 2026 season also brought a leadership change. Rinku was appointed KKR vice-captain, adding another responsibility to his role in the middle order. He continued to bat mostly as a finisher, but his 59.00 average in the season showed that his contribution was not limited to short cameos.
Rinku Singh International Debut and India Career
Rinku received his India call-up after his IPL and domestic performances finally combined into a consistent body of work.
He made his T20I debut against Ireland on August 18, 2023. Later that year, he made his ODI debut against South Africa on December 19, 2023.
His international career has mainly been built around T20 cricket. India has used him as a middle-order batter and finisher, particularly when a late-innings hitter is required.
Rinku has also shown that he can contribute with the ball. His T20I record includes three wickets, with best figures of 2/3, while his ODI record includes one wicket.
As of September 29, 2026, his latest T20I appearance was the third match of India Zimbabwe series on July 26, when he scored 25 from 14 balls. Across that three-match series, he scored 37 runs from two innings.
Rinku Singh International Stats
| Format | Matches | Innings | Runs | Highest | Average | Strike Rate | 50s | 100s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20Is | 48 | 35 | 702 | 69* | 36.95 | 156.35 | 3 | 0 |
| ODIs | 2 | 2 | 55 | 38 | 27.50 | 134.15 | 0 | 0 |
His T20I strike rate of 156.35 reflects the role India has generally given him. He has also remained unbeaten in 16 of his 35 T20I innings, which helps explain why his average is significantly higher than a typical lower-order hitter raw output might suggest.
His overall T20 career extends well beyond international cricket. Across domestic and franchise T20 matches, he has scored more than 3,600 runs, showing that the IPL is only one part of his white-ball record.
For a completely different perspective on left-handed batting greatness, our Brian Lara biography looks at a player whose career was built mainly around Test and first-class cricket rather than the T20 finishing role Rinku plays today.
Rinku Singh 2019 Suspension
One difficult chapter in Rinku Singh career came in 2019.
The BCCI suspended him for three months from June 1, 2019, after he played in an unauthorised T20 tournament in Abu Dhabi without obtaining permission from the board. He was also removed from the India A squad at the time.
Rinku had performed well in that tournament, but the issue was his participation without BCCI approval. The suspension became an interruption in his progress at a time when he was trying to move closer to India selection.
That episode did not define the rest of his career. He returned to domestic cricket and continued developing before eventually making his India debut in 2023.
Rinku Singh Net Worth in 2026
There is no official audited figure publicly available for Rinku Singh’s total personal net worth.
Several media and cricket websites currently place his wealth somewhere around ₹15 crore to ₹25 crore, while some estimates are even higher. Those figures should be treated as estimates rather than verified financial statements because private assets, investments, taxes, endorsements and expenses are not publicly disclosed in full.
What can be confirmed is that KKR retained Rinku for ₹13 crore for IPL 2026, after keeping him at the same value for IPL 2025. He is also listed by the BCCI in Grade C of the 2025-26 annual player contracts.
His major income sources therefore include:
- IPL salary from Kolkata Knight Riders
- BCCI central contract and India match fees
- Domestic cricket earnings
- Brand endorsements and commercial appearances
Rather than presenting a single net-worth figure as fact, it is more accurate to describe Rinku wealth as media-estimated and still growing alongside his cricket income.
Rinku Singh Wife: Is He Married?
As of September 29, 2026, Rinku Singh does not have a wife because he is not yet married.
He became engaged to Priya Saroj at a ceremony in Lucknow on June 8, 2025. Saroj is a Member of Parliament from Machhlishahr in Uttar Pradesh. The couple originally announced 2025 wedding was later postponed.
In September 2026, multiple reports stated that their wedding had been rescheduled for December 4, 2026, at the Ramada Hotel in Lucknow. Because that event is still in the future as of the publication date, it is more accurate to refer to Priya Saroj as Rinku Singh fiancée, not his wife.
Rinku Singh Records and Major Achievements
Rinku record list includes both domestic performances and major IPL moments.
Five consecutive sixes against Gujarat Titans
He hit five straight sixes in the final five balls of KKR chase against Gujarat Titans in IPL 2023. KKR needed 28 from those five deliveries, and Rinku finished the match unbeaten on 48.
474 runs in IPL 2023
Rinku scored 474 runs in IPL 2023 at a strike rate of 149.53, including four fifties. He finished that season as KKR top run-scorer.
953 runs in Ranji Trophy 2018-19
His 953 runs for Uttar Pradesh in the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy came at an average of 105.88 and included four centuries. His best score was 163*.
IPL 2026 breakthrough as a senior player
Rinku scored 295 runs in IPL 2026 and made an unbeaten 83, while KKR also named him vice-captain.
International T20 consistency
By July 2026, Rinku had reached 702 T20I runs in 48 matches, with a strike rate above 156.
What Makes Rinku Singh Different as a Finisher?
Rinku value is not simply that he can hit sixes.
He has developed an ability to remain at the crease when the required rate is high, then attack once he has judged the conditions. His 2026 IPL numbers show that he can now construct longer innings as well. The unbeaten 83 against Lucknow Super Giants was very different from the five-ball burst against Gujarat Titans, but both innings came from the same basic strength: confidence in high-pressure situations.
His left-handed batting also creates matchup value in the middle and death overs. Instead of being used only as a last-over hitter, he has increasingly been trusted to bat through difficult periods and finish the innings himself.
That development is important for the next stage of his career. The challenge is no longer simply proving that he can produce one remarkable finish. It is maintaining that output over a full season and translating his franchise form into a long-term India role.
Rinku Singh Career: Current Status in 2026
Rinku enters the latter part of 2026 as an established international batter rather than an unknown domestic prospect.
He remains a Kolkata Knight Riders player on a ₹13 crore contract, and he was named the franchise vice-captain for IPL 2026. He was also selected as vice-captain of Central Zone for the 2026-27 Duleep Trophy, adding another leadership responsibility to his domestic career.
His latest international match came in July, while his domestic role continued afterward. For a player who entered the IPL at ₹10 lakh in 2017 and later earned a ₹13 crore retention, the change in his career standing is clear from the numbers alone.
Rinku Singh biography is therefore still being written. The famous five sixes made him a household name, but his domestic record, international progress, 2026 IPL form and growing leadership role show why his career has continued well beyond that one night in Ahmedabad.
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FAQs
When did Rinku Singh make his international debut?
Rinku Singh made his T20I debut for India on August 18, 2023, against Ireland. He made his ODI debut later that year against South Africa on December 19.
How many IPL runs does Rinku Singh have?
Rinku Singh has scored 1,394 runs in the IPL, with a highest score of 83* and six fifties. His IPL career strike rate is 145.97.
What is Rinku Singh IPL team in 2026?
Rinku Singh plays for Kolkata Knight Riders. KKR retained him for IPL 2026 for ₹13 crore, and he was appointed vice-captain for the season.
What is Rinku Singh net worth in 2026?
There is no officially verified public net-worth figure. Media estimates commonly place his wealth in the ₹15-25 crore range, but these numbers should be treated as estimates rather than audited facts.
How many runs did Rinku Singh score in IPL 2026?
Rinku scored 295 runs in 14 IPL 2026 matches, with a best of 83* and a strike rate of 148.99. He averaged 59.00 because he was dismissed only five times.
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