KKR batter Rinku Singh's remarkable journey from being a sweeper to star player

KKR batter Rinku Singh has made a massive name for himself in the IPL 2023 game against defending champions, Gujarat Titans. In the last over, his side needed 29 runs off the last over. His batting partner, Umesh Yadav took a single on the first ball. The rest is history as the left-hander, Singh hit five sixes to help the two-time winners register an unlikely win.

"I had belief that I can do this. Rana bhai said to keep belief and to bat till the end, then we will see what happens. (On the single) I was just trying to hit sixes. (Umesh) Bhaiya was asking me not to think much and just play the ball. I was not thinking a lot, was just reacting to the ball. It kept coming out of the middle, I had belief and it came off in the end," Player of the Match against Gujarat Titans, Rinku said.

Rinku Singh comes from a financially poor family

The UP player's father works as a home delivery person for LPG cylinders. His older brother drives an auto-rickshaw. After failing in ninth grade, he was asked to work as domestic help in coaching in which one of his relatives work. However. the former decided to keep pursuing his dreams. Five years ago, Singh was brought by the Knight Riders after battling Mumbai Indians.

“Socha tha 20 lakh mein jaoonga, (thought I would get Rs 20 lakhs), but I was picked up for 80! The first thought that came to the mind was that I can contribute in my big brother’s wedding, and save up something for my sister’s wedding too. Aur ek achhe se ghar mein shift ho jaoonga," Rinku told the The Indian Express.

In 2013, he was chosen to represent Uttar Pradesh's under-16 team. A few years later, he was also selected for the under-19 squad. 10 years ago, he participated in a camp hosted by the Mumbai Indians and smashed a magnificent 95 off just 31 deliveries.