IPL 2022: THIS KKR batter almost became a ‘sweeper’ before T20 league success

Rinku Singh, who was bought by Kolkata Knight for Rs 80 lakh, has had to fight odds all his life and hence it was no surprise that he excelled when put under pressure like he has been all his life. 

In its 15 years of existence, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has witnessed many a player coming from wilderness to make a name for themselves. Kolkata Knight Riders’ Rinku Singh became the latest entrant in this list after he scored a brilliant unbeaten 42 off 23 balls, hitting six fours and a six to help KKR win by seven wickets.

Rinku raised 66 runs for the unfinished fourth-wicket partnership with Nitish Rana (48 off 37, 4x3, 6x2) as Kolkata Knight Riders reached 158/3 in 19.1 overs to overhaul Rajasthan Royals' score of 152/5 in 20 overs.

For his superb unbeaten 42 off 23 deliveries and two catches, Rinku was adjudged the ‘Player of the Match’, his first award in the IPL, bringing to life a remarkable journey for the 24-year-old from Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh that involved five-years of wait in IPL wilderness hoping for an opportunity to show his worth after years of toil at the domestic level playing for Uttar Pradesh.

Rinku, who was lapped up by KKR for Rs 80 lakh, has had to fight odds all his life and hence it was no surprise that he excelled when put under pressure like he has been all his life. While speaking to the Indian Express newspaper, Rinku was quoted saying that he almost became a sweeper to support his family.

“He took me to a place where they asked me to be a domestic worker — saaf, safaai aur pochaa maarna (sweeping and mopping). I came back home and told my morther, ‘I will not go again. Let me just try my luck in cricket,” he told The Indian Express.