India cricketer Rinku Singh opened up on the viral videos of him asking Virat Kohli for his bat during IPL and how those clips didn’t put him in a good light.

During the IPL 2024 season, videos of Rinku asking Kohli for bat were widely shared on the internet. The KKR southpaw ended up breaking a willow given to him by Kohli before he approached the RCB stalwart for a replacement.

At first, Kohli was left miffed by the request before he obliged him with a new bat.

“Main thoda zyada badnaam ho gaya tha bat ke chakkar mai (I became infamous because of the bat)," Rinku told News24 Sports.

“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 and bhaiya (Kohli) too as videos of bat were going viral."

While Rinku wasn’t spotted around Kohli during IPL 2025, another Uttar Pradesh cricketer Swastik Chikara went viral for following the former India captain like his shadow.

“For Chikara, it was a big deal to be around such a big player. He became his shadow. He learnt a lot from him," Rinku said.

In this year’s IPL, Rinku Singh approached MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma for their bats. “I wasn’t seen with Virat bhai this time (IPL 2025). I did get Mahi bhai’s bat and Rohit bhai’s bat. It’s a big deal for me getting the bats from such players," he said.

Rinku revealed that he also gifts bats, especially to those who actually need them. “I have given a lot of bats myself. I do give bats to those who need them but those who have contracts, I don’t," he remarked.

Rinku Singh is part of India’s T20I squad for the Asia Cup 2025, slated to get underway from September 9 in the UAE. India will open their campaign on September 10 against UAE at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.