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"My Dream Is To Play Tests": Rinku Singh Wants To Get Rid Of 'One-Format Player' Tag

Jatin

Rinku Singh is yet to leave a mark beyond T20Is [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/x.com]Rinku Singh is yet to leave a mark beyond T20Is [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/x.com]

Rinku Singh’s name usually sparks images of massive sixes disappearing into the night sky, last-over carnage and fans going berserk in the stands. He became a household name after that famous IPL over when he clobbered five consecutive sixes.

Rinku Singh Opens On Test Cricket Aspirations

But Rinku isn’t just about brute force. Behind the “T20 specialist” label that often gets stuck to him, the left-hander has a bigger dream in his heart: to one day play Test cricket for India in the whites.

Rinku Singh’s numbers in the shortest format speak for themselves. In 33 T20Is, he has scored 546 runs at an average of 42 and a strike rate above 160. But his domestic red-ball record is equally telling. In 50 first-class matches, Rinku has piled up runs at an outstanding average of 54.68 with seven centuries and 22 half-centuries.

“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 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,” Rinku told TimesofIndia.com.

Inspiration From Suresh Raina

Rinku has always looked up to Suresh Raina, who played the same middle-order role and delivered countless match-winning knocks.

“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. 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 said.

Life Beyond The Five Sixes

For many, Rinku’s identity is tied to that unforgettable night when he hammered five sixes in a row to win a game for KKR from nowhere. But for him, that was just one chapter of a much larger story.

“Yes, people know me because of that match, and since then expectations have gone up a lot. I’ve received so much love from everyone. After those five sixes, I got a different identity altogether — not just for myself, but for the whole of India. For me, it was a huge moment,” he admitted.

That innings may have put him on the cricketing map but Rinku believes the hard yards he has put in across formats are what truly define him.

Dreaming Of The Ultimate Stage

With the Asia Cup 2025 around the corner and the T20 World Cup not far away, Rinku knows there’s a lot of cricket to be played. Yet, his eyes are firmly set on the red-ball dream.

“My dream is to be part of the World Cup squad and to hold that trophy. But I also want to play Tests for India. I’ll be ready for it whenever the chance comes,” he said.

In a game that often thrives on instant thrills and power-hitting, Rinku Singh wants to prove he can do both: thrill crowds in T20s and dig in deep when it comes to Test cricket. If his numbers are anything to go by, the man from Aligarh is more than ready for the long haul.