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Kolkata Knight Riders on Tuesday announced Rinku Singh as vice-captain for IPL 2026, hinting at a future leadership transition. Venky Mysore, the CEO of the franchise, made the announcement at the Knights Unplugged event in Kolkata. KKR also posted the news on their social media: “God’s plan has a new chapter,” the franchise wrote on X.
It was a dream come true for Rinku, who joined the franchise in 2018. Since making his debut for the Shah Rukh Khan-owned franchise, Rinku has played 59 matches, scoring 1,099 runs at an average of 30.53. He rose to fame when he smashed five sixes off Gujarat Titans pacer Yash Dayal to secure an improbable victory, needing 29 runs off the last five balls in IPL 2023.
Rinku, who hails from Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh, has always trusted his abilities and remained determined despite the challenges in his cricketing journey. He began his career with the Uttar Pradesh U-16 team and quickly made a name for himself with consistent performances. Recognising his potential, the association fast-tracked his progress, and at just 16, he made his List A debut, scoring an impressive 83 runs and finishing as the top scorer in the match.
He went on to make his first-class debut for Uttar Pradesh in the 2016–17 Ranji Trophy season and continued to shine with remarkable performances. The following season proved to be a breakthrough, as he emerged as Uttar Pradesh’s leading run-scorer, accumulating 803 runs in only nine matches.
Rinku’s stellar domestic performances saw KKR pick him ahead of the 2018 IPL season. The 28-year-old missed the entire IPL 2021 season after suffering an injury. The franchise covered his medical expenses during rehabilitation. It was during this time that he started working closely with Abhishek Nayar at the KKR academy in Mumbai.
“I’ve seen him (Rinku) evolve as a leader over the years,” said Nayar, now KKR coach, at the event. He’s someone the team always looks to, so we wanted to give him a little more responsibility. I feel it’s the perfect time after winning the T20 World Cup.”
He added, “As a big power-hitter, we wanted him to shoulder a little more responsibility, and I feel it’s the perfect time, after becoming a World Cup champion, for him to step in, take responsibility, and help take the reins.”
KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane spoke about Rinku’s bond with the franchise. According to Rahane: “Obviously, when we think about KKR, the first name that comes to mind is Shah Rukh Khan; the very next name is Rinku Singh.”
Rinku’s gradual rise at KKR also paved the way for his international breakthrough, culminating in his inclusion in Team India’s victorious T20 World Cup 2026 campaign. He did not have a stellar tournament, amassing just 24 runs from five innings as he struggled to find his rhythm as a finisher. During the tournament, he was deeply affected by personal tragedy, as he lost his father.
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