Rinku Singh Exclusive: 'Don't like being tagged as T20I specialist; want to play Tests for India'

Rinku Singh (X-Cricbuzz)

NEW DELHI

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Before the Asia Cup, you lit up the UP T20 with your batting. Do you see that as the perfect preparation for the big tournament?

We’ve seen a few changes in your batting. Can you tell us more about them?

Gautam Gambhir has been a huge influence on your career — first at KKR and now as India’s head coach. How special is it to play under him again?

Did you get a chance to speak with him after your Asia Cup selection?

Gambhir often values players with all-round skills. Can we expect to see you contribute with the ball as well?

Poll Do you think Rinku Singh is primarily a T20 specialist? Yes, he excels in T20s No, he can play all formats

Is No. 7 your favourite batting position, or do you see yourself thriving elsewhere too?

Suryakumar Yadav is known for giving players plenty of freedom. How has your experience been under his leadership?

You’re often tagged as a T20 specialist ...

Looking back, do you think those five sixes in an over completely changed your career?

Do you consider yourself a strong contender for the T20 World Cup squad?

When it comes to your batting, where do ‘fear’ and ‘pressure’ fit in?

: Say Rinku Singh and the first couple of images are of breathtaking sixes, last-over thrillers, balls soaring over the bowler’s head, opposition captains holding their heads in disbelief, and crowds erupting in deafening cheers. The left-hander, who shot to fame after smashing five consecutive sixes in an IPL over, is often labelled a T20 specialist. But Rinku insists that while his power-hitting has made him a household name, he can also dig deep and bat in “defensive mode” when it comes to red-ball cricket.In 33 T20Is, Rinku has scored 546 runs at an average of 42.00 and a strike rate of over 160. Yet his domestic red-ball record tells an equally impressive story. The man known for sending bowlers on a leather hunt has played 50 first-class matches, amassing runs at a staggering average of 54.68, with seven centuries and 22 fifties to his name.Now preparing for the Asia Cup 2025, Rinku says his biggest dream is to don the whites for India in Test cricket.Rinku features in India’s 15-member Asia Cup squad and has been warming up in style. In the recently concluded UP T20, he collected 295 runs in nine matches, including a century and two fifties, stamping his authority ahead of the continental tournament.Ahead of the Asia Cup, to be played in the T20 format and starting on September 9 in the UAE, TimesofIndia.com caught up with Rinku for an exclusive conversation — on his evolving technique, playing under Suryakumar Yadav , guidance from Gautam Gambhir , life after the five sixes, and much more.The batting is going really well. It’s helping both the team and my confidence. I’m getting chances to bat in situations where I can take the team to victory. The position I’m batting at is one I really like, so it feels good to play there. I’m happy to have found rhythm and flow ahead of the Asia Cup. The ball is coming nicely onto the bat, and I’m really enjoying it.I’ve been training in Mumbai and practicing at the KKR Academy under Abhishek Nair sir. He has helped me a lot and asked me to now take my game to another level. T20 cricket is so demanding. Once you’ve played the IPL for a long time, bowlers start to understand your batting. That’s why you need to keep adding new elements to your game. You need to put runs on the board because the opposition also comes with the mindset of scoring heavily. I keep learning new things, like which shots I can add to my batting. After so many years in the IPL, bowlers know what weaknesses a batsman has, so I practice specifically on improving those areas. Practice has been really good. Yes, I’ve added a few more shots to my game. I’ve worked a lot on the sweep and reverse sweep. I’ve trained hard during this period, and I feel mentally and physically fit.GG sir (Gautam Gambhir) has always backed me and supported me a lot. When I first met him at KKR, he gave me so much confidence. I had a brief session with him where he spoke to me about pull shots. He always backs his players, and that feels really good. He’ll come, talk to you, and inject confidence. He’s a man with a lot of knowledge. I’ve enjoyed working with him—whether it’s batting, talking, or training. It’s always fun to share things with him. I’m really eager to play under his coaching again. It’s a special feeling to share the dressing room with a legend like GG sir.Not yet. Once I go to Dubai, I’ll have a big conversation with him (laughs). Till now, we haven’t spoken about anything. I’m just very excited to meet him and learn from him. His support in my career has been immense.Nowadays, every player is expected to contribute with both bat and ball. What else you can offer the team apart from your main skill is very important. If you are a batter and the captain gives you the ball and you manage to take a couple of wickets, there’s nothing better than that. It helps you and the team as well. If needed, I can bowl and pick up wickets too. Even selectors look at whether a player can contribute in both departments, so it definitely adds value. There’s no harm in it — it’s always for the team’s good. As a batter, if the captain hands me the ball in a particular situation and I take wickets, it’s a big plus for the team.My approach remains the same, no matter what position I come in to bat. That won’t change in the Asia Cup either. By God’s grace, I’ve been scoring runs, and I want to carry the same confidence into the tournament. If I get the chance to feature in the eleven, I’m ready to bat anywhere — whether at 6 or 7, or even higher up in the middle overs. It’s not that I can only bat down the order; I can play wherever India needs me. I always analyse the situation and bat accordingly, and I really enjoy being in crunch and tense situations.Surya bhai is a fantastic captain. In all the games I’ve played for India, he has supported me a lot. He always tells me to play the same way I’ve been playing in the IPL. He takes the pressure off and gives me confidence. He reminds me that playing for India is a big achievement, and that I must have done something special to get here. For him, it’s all about mindset. He makes players feel comfortable so that no one feels out of place or under pressure. That’s what makes him so special — he’s truly a players’ captain.I know fans love it when I hit sixes, and I’m really grateful for that. But my Ranji Trophy average is also very good — I average over 55 there. I really enjoy playing red-ball cricket. I’ve also played two ODIs for India and did well in one of them. So, it’s not like I’m only a T20 player. I believe I can perform in every format if I get the chance. I don’t like being tagged as a one-format player; I see myself as an all-format player. My dream is to play Test cricket for India, and if I get the opportunity, I’ll be ready to grab it.Suresh Raina bhaiya is my idol. He always tells me, “Rinku, be ready and prepared for everything.” I’d be very happy to play Tests for India and contribute there too. Raina bhaiya has played most of his matches at the position where I bat, and he has produced many match-winning knocks. I want to be the same kind of player for India across all formats.Yes, people know me because of that match, and since then expectations have gone up a lot. I’ve received so much love from everyone. After those five sixes, I got a different identity altogether — not just for myself, but for the whole of India. For me, it was a huge moment. The team needed 28 runs, and then five sixes came in a row. It was like a dream — these things don’t happen every day. It happened to me, and I’m thankful to the Almighty for that. All the hard work I had put in over the years felt rewarded in that one innings. In that moment, I felt God gave me everything.Yes, my dream is to be part of the World Cup squad and to hold that trophy. I keep praying to God for that. If I perform well in the upcoming series, things will become clearer for the World Cup. That’s my ultimate aim — to do well for my country in the Asia Cup, and I’m confident I will deliver.Pressure is always part of the game, but the most important thing is belief. If you believe in yourself, it doesn’t matter who the bowler is. Hard work and confidence make things easier. If you play with fear, everything goes wrong. But if you believe, anything is possible. That’s the mindset I carry every time I walk out to bat.

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