Rinku Singh, who hit five sixes in the last five deliveries against Gujarat Titans to help Kolkata Knight Riders chase down 29 in the 20th over on Sunday, has not played for India A yet. He had an opportunity four years ago but for an untimely suspension by the BCCI.
Despite being bought by the Punjab Kings at the 2017 IPL auction, Rinku did not play a single game that season. He was released the following year, and KKR got him for INR 80 lakh in 2018. Though he did not leave an impact, making 29 runs in four games at a strike rate of 94, he was retained by the franchise for 2019.
But Rinku, currently 25, failed to impress again, playing five games and making 37 runs. At the same time, he had established himself in domestic cricket. Until 2019, he had averaged 71.52 in 19 first-class games, while his List A average read 43.05 after 24 matches. He was also making his name as a big-hitter, striking at close to 140 in domestic T20s. He made his white-ball domestic debut for Uttar Pradesh in 2014.
His showings got him the attention of the national selectors, and he was rewarded with a selection in the India A squad for the unofficial Test series against Sri Lanka A in May 2019. In the same month, he turned out for Deccan Gladiators in Abu Dhabi’s Ramadan T20 Cup. He was a star performer for the franchise, scoring 361 runs at an average of 51.57 and a strike rate of 176. In the final, he slammed a 58-ball 104 against New Medical Centre after the Gladiators had been reduced to 24-5, and picked up 2-4 to be named the Player of the Match.
The joy did not last, for the BCCI suspended him with immediate effect for three months, from June 1, 2019. This was in accordance with the BCCI’s norms, according to which a player registered with the board could not take part in any overseas T20 tournament without prior permission.
The BCCI statement read: “Rinku Singh has been suspended with immediate effect for a period of three months starting June 1, 2019. He has been removed from the current India ‘A’ squad set to play a multi-day game against Sri Lanka ‘A’ starting May 31, 2019. The BCCI will not tolerate such violations in the future and strict actions will be taken if a player is found violating the BCCI rules and regulations.
Interestingly, Rinku had also played in the Ramadan Cup in 2017 for the Alubond Tigers, when he represented the team in 15 games. He had scored 376 runs then, striking at 163 with two fifties and a high score of 94. He also played in the league in 2015 and 2016 but had not been banned before 2019.
Rinku has currently played 40 first-class games, at 59.89. Of Indians with more innings, only Vijay Merchant, Ajay Sharma, Shantanu Sugwekar, and KC Ibrahim average more. His List A average reads 53. Perhaps the next India A call is just around the corner.
