Rinku Singh was recently interviewed by Times of India (TOI) ahead of the Asia Cup 2025, where he shared his preparation and dream of playing Test cricket for India — despite being widely known as a T20 batter.
Despite speculation around him being dropped from the Asia Cup 2025 squad, Rinku made it into the 15-man squad for the continental cup. He showcased his class in the UPT20, collecting 295 runs in 9 matches, including a match-winning century for his team. His recent performances speak for themselves, and he’s expected to play a vital role in the tournament for India..
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Rinku also opened up about India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir and the bond they share, recalling the early days at KKR and how GG helped expand his batting range..
“GG sir (Gautam Gambhir) has always backed me and supported me a lot. When I first met him at KKR, he gave me so much confidence. I had a brief session with him where he spoke to me about pull shots. He always backs his players, and that feels really good. He'll come, talk to you, and inject confidence. He's a man with a lot of knowledge. I've enjoyed working with him — whether it's batting, talking, or training. It's always fun to share things with him. I'm really eager to play under his coaching again. It's a special feeling to share the dressing room with a legend like GG sir.”
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Rinku is excited to reunite with Gambhir in the Indian dressing room and is looking forward to a one-on-one with the coach.
“Not yet. Once I go to Dubai, I'll have a big conversation with him (laughs). Till now, we haven't spoken about anything. I'm just very excited to meet him and learn from him. His support in my career has been immense.”
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He also spoke about the possibility of contributing with the ball, should Gambhir look to use him as a bowling option during the tournament.
“Nowadays, every player is expected to contribute with both bat and ball. What else you can offer the team apart from your main skill is very important. If you are a batter and the captain gives you the ball and you manage to take a couple of wickets, there's nothing better than that. It helps you and the team as well. If needed, I can bowl and pick up wickets too. Even selectors look at whether a player can contribute in both departments, so it definitely adds value. There's no harm in it — it's always for the team's good.”
Backed by Gambhir and fuelled by the dream of wearing the Test cap someday, he’s ready to grab every opportunity coming his way. Be it with the bat or the ball, Rinku is prepared to contribute wherever the team needs him.
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