For Rinka Singh, the T20 format resembled a relationship forever stuck between break-ups and make-ups – full of promise, frustration and unfinished business. Just when things seem to be coming together, circumstances intervene and force both sides to step back and reconsider.
Over the last three years, Rinku and T20 cricket have shared a similarly shaky bond that has flickered but never quite settled permanently.
However, hope has a habit of resurfacing. Rinku now finds himself with another opportunity to fix this fragile equation. He was drafted into India’s squad for the Men’s World T20 earlier this month, replacing Jitesh Sharma and finally getting the spot that had previously eluded him.
In 2024, Rinku was only named as a backup, close enough to dream but not quite out the door. This time, fortune smiled – giving him his first World Cup invite and perhaps a chance to finally make a T20 his own.
BURBULENT TIMES FOR THE RINK
For Rinku Singh to really shine, he may have to step his game up a notch. Not since his breakthrough IPL season in 2023 has the format been so kind. The numbers paint a sobering picture. In IPL 2024, Rinku endured a stunning campaign, scoring just 168 runs from 11 innings at an average of 18.66 and a strike rate of 148.67.
The following season brought only a slight improvement – 206 runs in 2025 at an average of 29.42 – but Rink’s match-winning 2023 was largely absent.
Perhaps most telling is the absence of a defining knock. It has now been two full seasons and 28 matches since Rinku last scored an IPL fifty, a drought that shows how quickly momentum can slip away in T20 cricket.
The struggles have spread beyond the boundaries of the IPL. The 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy proved to be another challenge as Rinku managed 172 runs in seven matches at an average of 24.57 and a strike rate of 135.43. His T20I return this year – 30, 9 and an unbeaten 4 – didn’t strengthen his case either.
With the T20 World Cup looming, Rinku is at a crossroads. Rediscovering freedom, trusting your instincts and taking risks may be the key to reviving a finisher that once struck fear into bowling attacks.
IS 2026 THE YEAR OF THE RINK?
Rinku will have ample opportunity to get back to his best before the T20 World Cup. India are scheduled to play New Zealand in a five-match T20I series and it is more than just another bilateral contest. The series offers India a valuable platform to freely experiment, fine-tune combinations and find the right balance ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
S Rinku does not feature in the series against South Africathe upcoming matches against the Black Caps will become crucial. Jitesh Sharma’s absence further strengthens Rinku’s case and makes him a strong contender to be included in the middle order.
Given his proven striking ability, he has both the ability and temperament to make a big impact in the marquee lead.
In his time, the formal Rinku can give bowlers nightmares, especially in death overs where his fearless stroke play can quickly tilt games. If he can rediscover that rhythm and produce some game-winning punches on the big stage, the narrative could quickly change.
A strong T20 World Cup could make 2026 the year when Rinku’s place in the playing XI is no longer debated, let alone his place in the squad.
– The end
Issued by:
Rishabh Beniwal
Published on:
December 26, 2025
