A display of grit, patience, and poise — Rinku Singh reminds selectors why he remains India’s most complete middle-order prospect in red-ball cricket.
By Sarhind Times Sports Bureau
Kanpur | October 19, 2025
Under the hazy Kanpur sky, as the morning dew lifted from the green-tinted surface of Green Park Stadium, Rinku Singh stitched together a masterpiece that could well redefine his domestic cricket legacy.
His 165-run marathon innings spanned 412 deliveries and over nine hours at the crease, steering Uttar Pradesh (UP) to a commanding first-innings lead of 138 runs against Andhra on Day 3 of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group encounter.
In a match where others struggled to last an hour, Rinku’s composure under relentless pressure turned an ordinary contest into an exhibition of temperament — a reminder that flamboyance isn’t his only virtue; endurance is too.
“He’s the backbone of our lineup,” said UP skipper Karan Sharma. “Every run he scores carries a message — that Indian cricket’s patience school is alive.”
The Battlefield: Kanpur’s Testing Turf
The pitch, greener than usual, offered seam movement early on and kept the bowlers interested throughout.
Andhra’s KV Sasikanth and Shoib Md Khan extracted bounce and reverse swing on Day 2, reducing UP to 124 for 5 before Rinku and wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel rebuilt the innings with remarkable restraint.
When Jurel fell for 48, UP still trailed by 63, but Rinku held firm, dead-batting deliveries that seamed, spun, and sometimes leapt awkwardly. His control percentage, per CricViz data, exceeded 92%, an extraordinary figure for a surface this tricky.
“He batted like old-school Dravid with modern patience,” quipped a local fan from the stands. “Every defensive shot felt like a sermon.”
The Knock: Patience Carved in Leather
Rinku’s innings began with quiet observation — 14 balls before his first scoring shot, a nudge to third man. Once settled, he rotated strike with ease, ensuring the scoreboard never froze.
He reached his fifty off 122 balls, his hundred off 248 — milestones achieved without theatrics, celebrated with a humble nod to the dressing room.
His wagon wheel showed strokes evenly distributed — flicks through midwicket, soft hands guiding through gully, and the occasional straight drive that punctuated long passages of restraint.
“It wasn’t about timing today,” Rinku said later. “It was about timing my temperament.”
He batted across five partnerships — 67 with Jurel, 42 with Saurabh Kumar, and a vital 58 with tailender Yash Dayal that deflated Andhra’s hopes of a quick wrap-up.
Andhra’s Response: Toil, Sweat, and Stubborn Hope
Andhra’s bowlers gave everything. Sasikanth bowled 27 overs for 69 runs, swinging the ball both ways.
Shoib Md Khan bowled marathon spells of spin and drift, occasionally beating Rinku’s outside edge but never breaking his rhythm.
“We planned five short-ball bursts, but he never flinched,” admitted Andhra captain Ricky Bhui. “You have to tip your hat to that.”
The field placements changed — six slips at one point, deep cover at another — yet the man from Aligarh remained unmoved. His mental map of the pitch was clearer than any analyst’s chart.
By the time he fell — caught at short midwicket attempting to accelerate post-lunch — UP had stretched to 412 all out. Kanpur applauded not just the score but the spirit.
The Man Behind the Knock
Rinku Singh’s rise is cricket folklore in the making.
From modest beginnings in Aligarh, working-class family roots, and financial hardship, he became a domestic stalwart and IPL finisher. But in red-ball cricket, his evolution has been quieter — more meditative.
“People know me for T20 sixes,” Rinku smiled during the press interaction, “but this — this is the real test. You can’t fake time.”
His Ranji career now boasts 14 centuries at an average above 55, making him one of the most consistent performers in India’s middle-order pool. Selectors have long praised his temperament but questioned his suitability for longer formats — a doubt this innings may finally erase.
Voices from the Dressing Room
Teammates say Rinku’s leadership extends beyond runs. He often spends evenings guiding younger players on mental routines — breathing exercises, visualization, and focus drills he picked up from India A camps.
“He plays like a monk,” said teammate Priyam Garg. “When he’s at the crease, nothing distracts him — not appeals, not chatter, not even the scoreboard.”
Coach Venkatapathy Raju, observing from the BCCI technical committee, called it “a textbook innings for tough conditions.”
“Rinku didn’t fight the pitch; he befriended it,” Raju told Sarhind Times. “That’s what separates great batsmen from good ones.”
Dhruv Jurel’s Support Act
While Rinku drew headlines, wicketkeeper-batsman Dhruv Jurel deserves equal credit.
His calm 48 off 102 balls steadied the ship after UP’s top order collapsed. Jurel’s soft hands and confident footwork against spin gave Rinku breathing room to settle.
The duo’s partnership, spanning 30 overs, absorbed the most dangerous period of swing before lunch.
When Jurel departed, Rinku seamlessly switched gears — rotating strike with the tail, managing the tempo like a maestro.
UP’s First-Innings Lead: Momentum Secured
By stumps on Day 3, Andhra were 45/2, still trailing by 93 runs.
UP’s bowlers, led by Yash Dayal and Shivam Mavi, exploited late-evening movement to claim early wickets.
The game now tilts heavily toward the hosts, with a likely innings victory if early breakthroughs arrive tomorrow.
“The plan is simple,” said Mavi. “Pressure with the new ball, patience with the old. Rinku’s knock gave us that freedom.”
Selectors Watching Closely
National selector SS Das was present at Green Park, reportedly impressed by Rinku’s composure.
With India’s middle-order flux post-Pujara–Rahane phase, his name resurfaces as a red-ball candidate.
“Rinku’s maturity makes him a three-format player,” said Das. “He’s shed the white-ball stereotype.”
Analysts agree. Former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer tweeted, “Rinku’s 165 is not just a score — it’s a statement. He’s ready for the next level.”
Beyond Numbers: A Psychological Masterclass
Sports psychologists observing the match noted Rinku’s “micro-focus strategy” — resetting mentally every 10 balls.
He consciously avoided fatigue triggers like over-celebrating milestones or looking at the scoreboard for long stretches.
“He converts anxiety into rhythm,” said Dr. Kiran Seth, a sports mind coach. “Few athletes understand the psychology of stillness like Rinku does.”
His innings drew comparisons to Rahul Dravid’s 270 in Rawalpindi (2004) — not for scale, but for spirit.
Fans’ Reaction: Pride in Patience
In Aligarh, his hometown, firecrackers went off when news of his century spread. Local clubs hung banners reading “Rinku Bhai – Hamara Ranji Ka Raja.”
Social media flooded with praise:
“When everyone else talks strike rate, he talks survival rate,” wrote a fan on X.
His family watched the live stream on a neighbour’s phone. His father, once a gas cylinder delivery worker, told reporters,
“My son’s runs feed our dreams. Today, he’s made every delivery worth it.”
A Knock with a Message
Rinku’s innings, beyond personal triumph, underscores the importance of domestic red-ball cricket at a time when franchise formats dominate discourse.
It sends a signal that India’s bench strength still grows in the quiet corridors of Ranji Trophy, not just in stadium spotlights.
“Talent thrives where patience is rewarded,” remarked veteran commentator Harsha Bhogle.
“And today, patience won.”
Editorial Perspective: When Time Becomes Talent
In cricket’s modern obsession with speed, Rinku Singh’s 165 is a rebellion — a slow-burning candle in a storm of flashlights.
Every block, every leave, every drop of sweat carried the grace of craft over chaos.
Kanpur’s crowd rose to applaud not fireworks but fortitude — a sight increasingly rare in an era of instant gratification.
If selectors were watching, they saw not just a batsman — they saw a mindset.
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