Rinku Singh will serve as Ajinkya Rahane's deputy for KKR in the upcoming IPL season.
Speaking at Knights Unplugged 3.0, Rahane said Rinku has become synonymous with KKR’s identity, ranked just behind team co-owner Shah Rukh Khan.
"Obviously, and you kind of summed it up yourself, when we think about KKR, the first name that comes to our mind is Shah Rukh Khan; the very next name is Rinku Singh," Rahane stated.
Rinku Singh’s journey from a sparingly used substitute to a core KKR player highlights immense persistence, starting from being picked for ₹80 lakh in 2018 to being retained for ₹13 crore ahead of IPL 2025. His breakthrough came in IPL 2023 when he hit five consecutive sixes to win a game.
Beyond IPL, the southpaw is now an international T20 star, who recently featured in India’s triumphant T20 World Cup campaign.
KKR head coach Abhishek Nayar also reflected on the new vice-captain's growth and standing within the setup.
“I think it's quite befitting because my first memory of coming to KKR and being part of the support staff was working with Rinku Singh. So now taking over as head coach, I think over the years we've seen Rinku Singh evolve as not only a cricketer but also as a leader for the past few years, a couple of years, while his performances have spoken for himself, I think off the field in a lot of ways, without saying a lot, he is someone that the team always looks forward to,” Nayar said.
“Now with the big power hitter, we wanted a little more responsibility for him to shoulder, and I feel it's the perfect time after being a World Cup champion to come in and take the responsibility and help take the reins over,” he added.
Addressing the team and management at the event, Rinku Singh pledged to work closely with his teammates and give his "very best" to help KKR strive for their fourth title.
“It feels wonderful. You have given me the opportunity to serve as vice-captain. Recently, Team India became world champions, and I was part of that journey. It is every player’s dream to represent Team India and win the World Cup, so that dream of mine has now been fulfilled.
“As for the responsibility you have entrusted to me, sir, I will give my very best. I will work closely with my teammates and all of you, and carry out my duties with complete dedication.
“I would also like to say this: please continue to support our team, whether we are going through good times or bad. Your support is needed even more during difficult phases. That is all I wish to say.
“We, as a team, will certainly play well. We have a very strong squad. While the tournament takes place every year, we will strive to perform even better this time, and aim to bring the trophy home,” Rinku said.
Rinku Singh’s elevation marks a significant milestone in his journey from bench player to a core leader. This decision highlights KKR’s trust in his ability and his growing influence within the franchise.