Rinku Singh Appointed Regional Sports Officer by UP Government
Rinku Singh Expresses Gratitude to UP CM
On Wednesday, Indian cricketer Rinku Singh expressed his heartfelt thanks to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for his recent appointment as a Regional Sports Officer. In a video shared on the official Government of UP social media account, Rinku stated, "I am sincerely thankful to Chief Minister @myogiadityanath ji for bestowing upon me ₹3 crore and the responsibility of Regional Sports Officer."
Commitments with KKR Delay Meeting
The 27-year-old cricketer mentioned that due to his obligations with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), he was unable to meet the Chief Minister in person. He looks forward to meeting him after the IPL 2026 season concludes to collect his appointment letter.
Rinku Singh's Journey to Fame
Rinku gained fame for his remarkable performance against Gujarat Titans' Yash Dayal during IPL 2023, where he hit five consecutive sixes in the final over while chasing a target of around 200 runs for KKR. His achievements include winning gold at the Asian Games, the Asia Cup, and most recently, the T20 World Cup with the Indian team. As a dynamic finisher, he has played a crucial role in several victories for the India men's team. In 45 T20 internationals, Rinku has scored 665 runs with an impressive average of 39.11 and a strike rate of 155.73, including three half-centuries. He has also participated in a few ODIs, claiming one ODI wicket and three T20I wickets.
New Leadership Position at KKR
In addition to his new role as Regional Sports Officer, Rinku has been appointed vice-captain of KKR for the upcoming IPL 2026 season. He will support Ajinkya Rahane in this leadership position, taking over from Venkatesh Iyer, who was signed by the Royal Challengers Bangalore for ₹7 crore prior to the season.
Support for Athletes from UP Government
During a ceremony on Wednesday for distributing appointment letters and prize money to international medalists, CM Yogi highlighted that Uttar Pradesh is the first state in India to prioritize athletes in government jobs. He stated, "UP is the first state to give athletes priority in government service. We have issued appointment letters to over 500 athletes for various police roles. Rinku Singh has received his appointment letter as a Regional Sports Officer due to his cricketing achievements and performance at the Asian Games."