Rinku Singh has been named the captain of the Uttar Pradesh team for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, India’s premier domestic 50-over tournament, starting December 21. He replaces Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who led the team in the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where UP bowed out in the quarterfinals against Delhi.
This marks Rinku's first stint as captain of a senior state team. Earlier this year, he led the Meerut Mavericks to victory in the UPT20 League, where he played a pivotal role with 210 runs at a strike rate of 161.54, primarily as a finisher.
Reflecting on his new role, Rinku said, "Leading Meerut Mavericks in the UPT20 League was a great learning experience. I enjoyed the responsibility and learned a lot. I’ve also been working on my offspin to add value to my game, as modern cricket demands versatility. As UP captain, I’m prepared for the added responsibility and challenges."
Rinku’s rise as captain coincides with speculation about him being a contender for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captaincy in IPL 2025. Retained by KKR alongside core players like Sunil Narine and Andre Russell, Rinku said his current focus remains on Uttar Pradesh's campaign. "Captaincy in the IPL isn’t on my mind right now. My priority is to help UP reclaim the Vijay Hazare Trophy, which we last won in 2015-16."
The Vijay Hazare Trophy provides a crucial platform for players to showcase their skills ahead of India’s squad selection for the Champions Trophy in February. While Rinku has cemented his place in India’s T20I setup, he has played just two ODIs since debuting in South Africa a year ago.
Rinku’s List A record is impressive, with 1899 runs in 52 innings at an average of 48.69 and a strike rate of 94.8, including one century and 17 half-centuries. Despite his consistent performances, he remains grounded. "I don’t see this as an India audition. I believe in hard work and divine timing. I didn’t expect to be in the Indian team after hitting five consecutive sixes in the IPL, but that changed my life. I trust God’s plan while staying focused on my efforts."
Uttar Pradesh begins their campaign against Jammu and Kashmir on December 21, followed by matches against Mizoram (December 23), Tamil Nadu (December 26), Chhattisgarh (December 28), Chandigarh (December 31), and Vidarbha (January 3).
Updated on 20th December, 2024 by MyFortune11 Team