Rinku Singh Aims for Test Cricket Glory with India
Rinku Singh's Aspirations in Test Cricket
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], September 24: Indian cricketer Rinku Singh has shared his aspirations to play Test cricket for India. He acknowledged that there is a common belief that he is suited only for one format, but he insists that he is capable of excelling in all three formats and dreams of wearing the whites for the national team.
Having participated in 48 T20 Internationals, Rinku has accumulated 702 runs across 35 innings, boasting an impressive average of 36.94 and a strike rate of 156.34, along with three half-centuries. He has also played in two One Day Internationals, scoring 55 runs, as he mentioned in an interview with JioStar.
On his ambitions in red-ball cricket, Rinku stated, "There is a perception that I’m just a one-format player. However, my domestic cricket average speaks for itself, whether in one-dayers or four-day matches. I aspire to play Test cricket for India, and I want people to recognize that I can compete in all formats. Currently, I represent India in just one format."
Rinku, who plays for Uttar Pradesh in domestic cricket, has an impressive first-class record with 3,757 runs in 53 matches, averaging 58.70, which includes nine centuries and 23 fifties. In List-A cricket, he has scored 2,418 runs in 70 matches, averaging 52.56, with two centuries and 21 fifties, maintaining a strike rate of 101.17.
He also expressed his hopes for ODI stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to clinch the 2027 ODI World Cup title, which will be co-hosted by South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. Both players are set to feature in the upcoming ODIs against the West Indies starting September 27.
"Both Virat bhaiya and Rohit bhaiya are legends. The entire nation hopes they will be part of the World Cup-winning team. It would be monumental for the country, especially since it could be their last World Cup. Winning it would be a significant achievement for them as well, considering we haven't lifted the trophy since 2011," he concluded.
Rohit has participated in three World Cups from 2015 to 2023, consistently performing well, including being the top run-scorer in the 2019 tournament with 648 runs in nine matches, featuring five centuries and a fifty.
Overall, he ranks as the fourth-highest run-scorer in World Cup history with 1,575 runs in 28 matches, averaging 60.57, including seven centuries—the most by any player in World Cup history—and six fifties.
In ODIs, Rohit stands as India's third-highest run-scorer, amassing 11,895 runs in 288 matches at an average of 48.95, with 34 centuries and 62 fifties.
Virat Kohli is the second-highest run-scorer in World Cup history, with 1,795 runs in 37 matches, averaging 59.83, including five centuries and 12 fifties.
With a remarkable 14,941 runs in 314 ODIs at an average of 58.59, including 54 centuries and 79 fifties, Virat is regarded as one of the greatest ODI batsmen of all time.
He has excelled in successful run-chases, scoring 6,235 runs in 111 matches at an average of 89.07, with 24 centuries and 29 fifties.
In the current ODI season, Virat has scored 384 runs in six innings at an average of 64.00, including a century and three fifties. Rohit has had a mixed year, with 379 runs in nine innings at an average of 42.11, including a century and a fifty, with a top score of 138 against England at Lord’s.