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"Badnaam Ho Gaya": Rinku Singh Opens Up On 'Bat-Begging' Incident With Kohli In 2024

Soumyajit Dutta

Rinku Singh shares his side of the story after being viral [Source: @tuchee_click/X.com]Rinku Singh shares his side of the story after being viral [Source: @tuchee_click/X.com]

Back in 2024, Rinku Singh grabbed headlines off the field when a video of him asking Virat Kohli for a bat during an IPL clash between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders went viral. The clip, which quickly spread across social media, became one of the most talked-about moments of that season.

Rinku Singh Shares His Opinion On Being Infamous

Recently, speaking to News24, Rinku reacted to the incident and expressed discomfort over how the video shaped public perception. The KKR batter admitted he felt embarrassed by the clip and said it had affected his image.

"(Main thoda zyada badnaam ho gaya tha) I had become a little too infamous because of the bat. I used to meet him (Kohli) normally and then asked for a bat. The cameraman would follow me. It wasn't being perceived well. It wasn't good for me or for bhaiya (Kohli) either, as videos of the bat were going viral," said Rinku.

Rinku Singh further revealed that he had also asked for bats from CSK legend MS Dhoni and India’s white-ball captain Rohit Sharma during the IPL 2024 season. However, it was only the Kohli incident that was caught on camera, which led to widespread attention.

"This time, I wasn't seen with Virat Bhai (in IPL 2024). I took Mahi Bhai's (MS Dhoni's) bat this time, and also Rohit (Rohit Sharma) Bhai's bat. It's a really big deal for me because getting bats from such big players is a huge thing," Rinku added.

What Happened Between Kohli And Rinku?

For those unaware, the viral video showed Rinku explaining to Kohli that he had accidentally damaged the bat previously gifted by the RCB icon. While narrating how he broke it while attacking a spinner, Kohli responded with a touch of sarcasm, saying he wasn’t in the mood to gift another one as it was difficult even for him to part with bats.

Nevertheless, Rinku Singh has earned a place in India’s Asia Cup squad, where he is expected to feature in the finisher’s role. The left-hander has also been in excellent form in the ongoing UP T20 League, leading the Meerut Mavericks. India will hope he carries his domestic heroics into the continental tournament, which begins on September 10.