Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) kept their playoff hopes alive with a 14-run win over Delhi Capitals, but concerns remain over the form of key players – particularly Rinku Singh. Once hailed as a reliable finisher, the 27-year-old has failed to make a strong impact in IPL 2025 and has yet to justify the Rs 13 crore retention tag placed on him before the mega auction.
Steady but not impactful against Delhi
In the April 29 fixture at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) posted 204 runs after being asked to bat first. Rinku contributed 36 runs off 25 balls, hitting 3 fours and a six. While his strike rate of 144 was respectable, it lacked the finishing firepower KKR has come to expect from him in pressure situations.
Underwhelming Season So Far
Rinku Singh has featured in 10 matches this season, scoring 169 runs in 8 innings. He averages 33.80 with a strike rate of 145.68 – decent on paper, but not enough from a batter expected to play game-changing knocks. He hasn’t scored a single fifty yet, with a highest score of just 38. So far, he has struck 17 fours and 7 sixes.
Big price tag, modest returns
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) retained Rinku for a hefty Rs 13 crore, a massive jump from his original Rs 80 lakh deal when he joined in 2018.
The move was based on his stellar IPL campaign in the year 2023, where he scored 474 runs in 14 matches at an average of 59.25. That season also included his iconic five consecutive sixes in the final over against Gujarat Titans – an innings that shot him to fame.
However, the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season has been far more subdued. With the race to the playoffs heating up, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will be hoping Rinku finds his spark at just the right time.
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 retained Rinku for a hefty Rs 13 crore, a massive jump from his original Rs 80 lakh deal when he joined in 2018.){kind=link}