Team India batter Rinku Singh has revealed his plans about the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 and his personal relationship with Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir. The explosive batter has been in stunning form in the ongoing Uttar Pradesh T20 League, where he already claimed 332 runs in 10 matches at an average of 66.40 for Meerut Mavericks.

After his push in India's limited overs squad, Singh's career graph gradually slowed down a bit, which raised some concerns about his inclusion in the Asia Cup 2025 squad. BCCI selectors have high hopes about the lower-middle-order batter, and they named the Uttar Pradesh-born in the team. During a recent interview, he was asked about his role in the upcoming prestigious tournament with the Men in Blue. Rinku, with a smile, replied that we'll have a conversation with Gambhir about his role in the tournament.

"Not yet. Once I go to Dubai, I’ll have a big conversation with him (laughs). Till now, we haven’t spoken about anything. I’m just very excited to meet him and learn from him. His support in my career has been immense," Rinku Singh said. 

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Rinku Singh praised Gautam Gambhir 

During the IPL 2024 season, he got the chance to work with Gambhir, who was then the mentor of the Kolkata Knight Riders, to guide them for another successful season. Rinku said that Gambhir is someone who stands for his boys. Whether it is batting, mental support, or training, Gambhir's working method mesmerized Rinku. 

"When I first met him at KKR, he gave me so much confidence. I had a brief session with him where he spoke to me about pull shots. He always backs his players, and that feels really good. He’ll come, talk to you, and inject confidence. He’s a man with a lot of knowledge. I’ve enjoyed working with him—whether it’s batting, talking, or training. It’s always fun to share things with him. I’m really eager to play under his coaching again. "It’s a special feeling to share the dressing room with a legend like GG, sir," he added.

Rinku Singh, due to his T20 skills for the Kolkata Knight Riders, has become a regular member of India in the shortest format. He has been selected into the T20I squad of the Blue Brigade, besides getting a chance to represent the country ahead of the Asia Cup 2025. His contribution in the lower order is immense.

However, ahead of the two-match Test series against West Indies in India, the southpaw has eyed to make his Test debut for the Caribbean side. The 27-year-old has overall smashed 3336 runs in 72 FC innings at an average of 54.68 with seven centuries and 22 half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 163 runs.

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“I know fans love it when I hit sixes, and I’m really grateful for that. But my Ranji Trophy average is also very good — I average over 55 there. I really enjoy playing red-ball cricket. I’ve also played two ODIs for India and did well in one of them. So, it’s not like I’m only a T20 player. I believe I can perform in every format if I get the chance.” The Kolkata Knight Riders’ player expressed on TOI.  

Rinku Singh aims to make his Test debut against West Indies in India’s home season

Ricku has overall cracked 3221 runs in 142 innings of the shortest format at an average of 34.26 and a strike rate of 148.22 with 17 half-centuries at the best score of 79. He aims to follow in his idol’s footsteps, Suresh Raina, who also featured across formats.

“I don’t like being tagged as a one-format player; I see myself as an all-format player. My dream is to play Test cricket for India, and if I get the opportunity, I’ll be ready to grab it. Suresh Raina bhaiya is my idol. He always tells me, ‘Rinku, be ready and prepared for everything.’ I’d be very happy to play Tests for India and contribute there too.” The KKR batter addressed.  

“Raina bhaiya has played most of his matches at the position where I bat, and he has produced many match-winning knocks. I want to be the same kind of player for India across all formats.” Rinku Singh concluded.

After Sanju Samson, another Team India batter, Rinku Singh, is in fiery form ahead of the Asia Cup 2025. On match number 27 of the ongoing Uttar Pradesh T20 League between Kashi Rudras and Meerut Mavericks.

Meerut skipper Rinku Singh played a blistering 78-run innings off 48 balls to ensure his team's victory with six boundaries and 6 over boundaries. With that win, Mavericks secured their 5th win of their campaign after playing 9 matches and claimed the second spot of the points table. Their authoritative victory came against the table topper Kashi Rudras. Rinku displayed his stunning form while chasing a target of 136 runs in the second innings. Meerut got their much-needed victory with 7 wickets in hand and 26 balls to spare.

In the 16th over of the second innings, the middle-order batter smacked three sixes and a four in the first four balls of the over and concluded the match in style. The innings is proof of Rinku's matured mind as well. When he came to the crease, he did not try to do anything in a hurry. Took his time, and then delivered.

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A matured innings by Rinku Singh 

At the time of the match, Rinku was 7 off 16. From there, when they concluded the match, he remained unbeaten for 78 off 48. He started to shift gears after the 12th. Along with Singh, Madhav Kaushik remained firm on the track, scoring an unbeaten 34 against 20 balls.

RINKU SINGH SMASHED 78* (48) IN THE UP T20 LEAGUE. 👏pic.twitter.com/ucVtoPbxTv

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 31, 2025

The hundred-plus-run partnership between Rinku and Madhav proved decisive for the rivalry. During the initial stage of the second innings, Meerut Mavericks was in an unstable situation, losing 3 top-order batters for only 26 runs. 

Kashi Rudras won against Meerut Mavericks by 91 runs. It was a day game when their captain Karan Sharma played well with a superb unbeaten 107 runs in 54 balls, hitting 7 fours and 9 sixes. His fearless batting lifted the team to a massive 224/3 in 20 overs. Uvaish Ahmed, who scored 69 runs in 38 balls with 7 big sixes. Together, they built a good partnership that left the Mavericks' bowlers helpless.

Quick runs from Abhishek Goswami 18 runs and Saksham Rai 22 runs added to the total, scoring a strong target. Chasing 225 runs was always going to be tough for Meerut Mavericks, and their innings never really got going. Swastik Chikara played a fighting knock of 58 runs from 41 balls, while Rituraj Sharma tried to counterattack with 25 off 15. But apart from them, no other batter could stay long at the crease.

Swagstik’s stylish knock against the Rudras went down like this.

Watch live on @SonyLIV and @SonySportsNetwk. #UPT20League #ANAXUPT20League #KhiladiYahanBantaHai #KRvsMM pic.twitter.com/9wwwcXprPo

— UP T20 League (@t20uttarpradesh) August 23, 2025

Skipper Rinku Singh fell cheaply for just 1 run, and with that, the chase slipped out of their hands. The Rudras bowled well and were disciplined. Kartik Yadav took 3 wickets for just 10 runs, while Atal Bihari Vipin Rai took 3 wickets conceding 27 runs and Shivam Mavi 2 wickets 32 runs took important wickets when the team needed them.

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The Mavericks could only manage 133/9 in 20 overs, falling way short of the target. It was a dominating performance from Kashi Rudras, with their captain leading from the front. The huge win not only gave them two important points but also showed that they are one of the strongest sides in the competition.

The upcoming superstar of the Indian side in the shortest format of the game, Rinku Singh, has lauded his national head coach and former mentor of the Kolkata Knight Riders from the Indian Premier League (IPL), Gautam Gambhir, ahead of the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, which is set to begin from September 09 at the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Rinku shed light on the other side of the former Indian opener, who is always seen as an aggressive and serious person in his playing days. The left-handed batter’s first stint with Gautam Gambhir came in IPL 2025, where he revealed the backing he got from the former KKR leader during a recent interaction with News24.

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“He backs every player well. During my KKR days, he backed them a lot. He gives freedom to all the players and says Go play and do whatever you want to do. You all know that he is aggressive, and one good thing about him is that he likes to win a lot. He always sits during the match and also keeps praying. He also supports a lot.” Rinku Singh expressed on News24. 

Rinku Singh explains the cool vibe of Gautam Gambhir ahead of Asia Cup 2025

Rinku, who has accumulated 546 T20I runs in 24 innings at an average of 42 and a strike rate of nearly 161 with three half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 69 runs, had a struggling season in 2024 when Gambhir was the mentor of the side. In that season, the southpaw cracked 168 runs at a strike rate of 148.67.

“It is not that he is always serious. He likes to listen to songs in the dressing room. Ramandeep used to be a DJ in our room. He used to play songs, and Gambhir likes to create a cool vibe. He also used to have fun and jokes with the senior players.” The Uttar Pradesh batter shed light.

After winning their third IPL title in 2024, Gambhir became the Indian head coach. Under him, India had a roller-coaster time, winning the Champions Trophy 2025 and drawing the away five-match Test series in England. However, they faced a home Test series whitewash against New Zealand and lost to Australia down under by 3-1.

The lower-order Indian batter, Rinku Singh, has been selected for the national side in the 15-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, which is set to begin from September 09 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as the entire event will happen across Dubai and Abu Dhabi. He has been a regular member of the T20Is for the last few years. 

Rinku has always shared a light-hearted moment with the co-owner, Shah Rukh Khan, of his IPL franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The left-handed batter looked back at the time when he traveled with SRK in a chartered flight during the tournament.

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“See, I knew that he was such a humble person from the very first season. Whenever we meet, he always comes to hug me. Whether you are a senior or junior, his bonding remains the same. That’s what makes him great, and everyone praises him. So, I wasn’t selected for the team and was in the standby, the entire team left, and I had to stay back.” Rinku revealed during the recent interaction with RevSportz.

Watch: Rinku Singh reveals travelling story with SRK during IPL days

Rinku has been a successful member of the national side with the bat as he has smashed 546 runs in 24 innings at an average of 42 and a strike rate of over 160, with the help of three half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 69 runs.

🚨 Rinku Singh Exclusive

Rinku Singh recalls travelling on a chartered flight with Shah Rukh Khan, where SRK’s warmth and humility left him speechless.

Full Episode airs at 12 noon. Stay Tuned.@rohitjuglan @rinkusingh235 @iamsrk @AgeasFederal @KKRiders #KKR #ShahRukhKhan… pic.twitter.com/RJwXzDAEnw

— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) August 23, 2025

“Sir got to know that I was going the next day. So, they said to travel with (SRK), sir. I was scared of it at the start of how to handle the situation, or what I would even say. So, I refused several times. Now, because he told me, I had to go.” Rinku, who smashed 206 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 153.73 during the last IPL, addressed.

“The season wasn’t going well for me. So, he was giving me advice. He said that the number of people who know you is the same as the number who know me. I giggled at that. So, that was my first traveling moment on a chartered flight with him.” The left-handed batter shed light.

A pure carnage. Days after placing himself in the Asia Cup 2025 squad, Rinku Singh showed his true colors in the UP T20 league. For the Meerut Mavericks, Rinku played a breathtaking innings of 108 unbeaten runs against 48 deliveries. To create these innings, the middle-order batter smashed 8 over boundaries and 7 boundaries.

When he successfully accomplished the business, the strike rate was ticking at 225.00. To mark the occasion, Kolkata Knight Riders shared a short video to depict Rinku's ruthless batting, which took Mavericks safely to the finish line against Gorakhpur Lions. Gorakhpur bowlers were doing well to defend their first innings 167 runs by clinching 4 top-order wickets of Meerut. When Rinku stepped into the crease, their team was four down for only 38 runs. From there, the batter started carnage all over the ground.

Opponent team bowlers, who were looking at the top of their game, started to feel the pressure and made repeated mistakes. Whenever Rinku spotted a ball on the off stump or on the middle stump area, he did not hesitate to swing his blade.

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'The one and only Rinku Singh'

Bowlers of Gorakhpur Lions, under pressure, produced some well-wide-off-the-stump deliveries, which allowed Singh to open his arms. With the help of the hundred, Rinku is now at the fourth spot of the leading run scorers of the ongoing UP T20 League with 131 runs in 3 innings. And his team, Meerut Mavericks, is in the second position with 2 wins and one loss in 3 matches.

Kolkata Knight Riders, in their video, wrote, "Chasing a target of 168, Rinku walks in at 38-4. Scores unbeaten 108 off 48. Wins the game in the 19th over. The One. The Only. RINKU SINGH!" as the caption. 

Chasing a target of 168, Rinku walks in at 38-4. Scores unbeaten 108 off 48. Wins the game in the 19th over. 🤯

The One. The Only. RINKU SINGH! 🦁 💜

pic.twitter.com/YCjQcLMcaH

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) August 21, 2025

Meerut Mavericks won a brilliant win over Gorakhpur Lions, chasing down 168 runs with 7 balls to remaining. The star of the night was their captain Rinku Singh, who played a breathtaking innings to guide his team home.

Earlier, Gorakhpur Lions put up 167/9 in 20 overs. Skipper Dhruv Jurel scored 38 runs while Nishant Kushwah added a quick 37. Shivam Sharma’s late unbeaten 25 also helped them finish on a fighting total. For Meerut, Vishal Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar took three wickets each and bowled smartly to stop Gorakhpur from getting past 170.

CAPTAIN RINKU SINGH 108*(48) IN UPT20 LEAGUE...!!!! 👑🔥

- Relive the One Man Show, A perfect Preparation for Asia Cup. pic.twitter.com/zWF9ECyqy4

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 21, 2025

Meerut’s chase started badly as they lost four wickets with just 33 runs on the board. The top order failed, but then Rinku Singh stepped up with one of the finest knocks of the tournament. He smashed an unbeaten 108 from just 48 balls, hitting 7 fours and 8 sixes. His clean hitting turned the game completely in Meerut’s favor. At the other end, Sahab Yuvraj Singh stayed calm and supported his captain with 22 not out. Together, they both added an unbeaten 135 runs for the fifth wicket to won a comfortable win for meerut's.

Chasing a target of 168, Rinku walks in at 38-4. Scores unbeaten 108 off 48. Wins the game in the 19th over. 🤯

The One. The Only. RINKU SINGH! 🦁 💜

pic.twitter.com/YCjQcLMcaH

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) August 21, 2025

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Gorakhpur’s bowlers had no answers once Rinku started firing. Vasu Vats went for 43 runs, while Abdul Rehman and Vijay Yadav managed a wicket each but couldn’t stop the flow of runs. This victory gave Meerut Mavericks a strong boost in the competition, while Gorakhpur Lions were left disappointed. Rinku Singh’s powerful century was the difference between the two teams and will be remembered as one of the best knocks of the season.

Just days before the squad selection of the Indian side for the 2025 season of the Asia Cup 2025, every player of the Blue Brigade is trying their best to put a strong case to get selected for the national side. Rinku Singh, the lower-order batter, is the same as he featured during the opening game of the UP T20 League encounter. 

The Meerut Mavericks captain picked up the wicket on the very first ball of the over when he clean bowled the captain of the Kanpur Superstars, Adarsh Singh, as the all-rounder was pumped up in picking up the wicket. The batter made room and looked to smash the ball over the cover region, but he ended up watching the ball thrashing into the stumps.

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Kanpur Superstars won the toss and decided to bowl first during the opening fixture at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Vihari Bajpayee Stadium in Lucknow. It was the Mavericks batter, Madhav Kaushik, smashing an unbeaten knock of 95 runs in just 31 balls. His knock was composed of 10 boundaries and seven sixes.

Watch: Rinku Singh shows aggression with wicket on first ball during UP T20 League 2025

Rituraj Sharma remained unbeaten on 60 runs in 36 balls with the help of four boundaries and as many sixes. The opening wicket-keeper batter, Akshay Dubey, drilled 44 runs in 26 balls. This helped the Mavericks put 225/2 in their allotted 20 overs as Bobby Yadav and Shubman Yadav picked up one wicket apiece.

THE AGGRESSION OF RINKU SINGH. pic.twitter.com/qylyGgRssK

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 18, 2025

Chasing the target of 226 runs for victory, Kanpur never got off to a flying start, as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Captain Sameer Rizvi was the leading run-getter with 45 runs in 34 balls, while Priyanshu Gautam notched up 34 runs in 20 balls to see the Mavericks earn a victory by 86 runs.

The six-team UP T20 league event has provided several key players to the Indian cricket team. The competition is going to start on August 17 and will run until September 06, featuring the round-robin format along with the knockouts. The top four sides will advance into the semi-finals, while the winners of these games will face each other in the final at the Ekhana Stadium in Lucknow.

The buzz around Rinku Singh started to gradually decrease as Kolkata Knight Riders showcased poor form in the IPL 2025. In the campaign, like the team, Rinku was also unable to justify his talent. The situation was also the same for Shivam Dube as well. Both prolific limited-overs batters were below in comparison to their full potential. 

Ahead of the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) can take a tough call about his future soon. Less than a month to go before the beginning of Asia Cup 2025; prior to that, the board will have to announce the full squad for the prestigious tournament. On social media platforms, there are some reports with multiple claims regarding the possible T20I squad of the men in the Blue Brigade. A recently published report has claimed that BCCI can take a hard call either on Rinku Singh or Shivam Dube. 

IPL 2025 performances of Rinku Singh and Shivam Dube:

Rinku Singh played a total of 13 IPL 2025 matches for Kolkata Knight and scored 206 runs at an average of 29.42. Unbeaten 38 was the top highest score for the lower middle-order batter, while his IPL career's best score is 67 not out and his batting average is 30.52, which is better than his last campaign's stats. 

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Dube's IPL 2025 stats are better in comparison to Singh's stats. In 14 matches for Chennai Super Kings, the middle-order batsman struck 357 runs at an average of 32.45, including a highest score of 50. His batting average of IPL 2025 is better than his overall IPL batting average, which is 30.47. 

Last T20I matches for India:

For India, he played his last T20I match in February this year against England, where he scored only 9 runs, and in the previous game, he scored 30. 

Against England this year, Dube, in his last T20I game, scored 30, and in the previous match,he bagged a 53-run innings.