Rinku Singh Biography: Age, Family, IPL Five Sixes, India Career and Ranji Hundred

Rinku Singh is trending in India after an unbeaten Ranji Trophy century on the opening day of the new domestic season. His journey is one of the best-known stories in Indian cricket: a boy from a modest home in Aligarh who became an IPL star, an Asia Cup final finisher and a member of India’s World Cup-winning squad. This biography covers his life, career and current form.

Rinku Singh at a Glance

• Full name: Rinku Khanchand Singh Wikipedia
• Born: 12 October 1997 in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh Wikipedia
• Age: 29 as of 12 October 2026, his birthday (some pages still show 28)
• Role: left-handed middle-order batter who bowls right-arm off-breaks espncricinfo
• Teams: India, Uttar Pradesh and Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL Wikipedia
• T20I shirt number: 35 Wikipedia

Early Life in Aligarh

ESPNcricinfo calls his career a rags-to-riches story. His father, Khanchand Singh, worked for a gas cylinder distribution company, and the family lived in a two-room home provided by his employer. He did not grow up in a high-end academy. Instead, he played age-group cricket for his state: Uttar Pradesh at under-16, under-19 and under-23 levels, plus Central Zone at under-19. Matches (16) +2

Domestic Breakthrough

His first-class career for UP started in 2014. In the 2018-19 season he was UP’s leading run scorer in the Ranji Trophy, with 953 runs in ten matches. That season made him a name in domestic cricket and helped him get noticed by IPL scouts. Wikipedia

The IPL Journey

The path to the IPL was not smooth. Punjab bought him at the 2017 auction but he did not play a game for them. His luck changed when KKR bought him for ₹80 lakh at the IPL 2018 auction, although he did not play an innings of note until IPL 2022. An injury also sidelined him during the 2021 season, but KKR backed him anyway. Rinku Singh +3

Five Sixes in One Over

Rinku’s name became known across India in April 2023. Needing 28 from five balls against Gujarat Titans, he hit Yash Dayal for five consecutive sixes. He is the only batter to hit five sixes in the last over of a chase in the IPL or any T20 chase with ball-by-ball data, and the first Indian to hit five consecutive sixes in one IPL over, after Chris Gayle. That season he scored 474 runs at a strike rate close to 150. There is a nice twist in the story: Yash Dayal is now in the same Uttar Pradesh squad listing for the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy. Rinku Singh +3

India Career

That IPL form led to a national call-up. He made his T20I debut in the first match of the 2023 away series against Ireland at Malahide and scored his first half-century in the second match. His ODI debut came on 19 December 2023. He has since become a finisher for India: he made an unbeaten 69 against Afghanistan and calmly hit the winning runs against Pakistan in the 2025 Asia Cup final. Wikipedia’s honours list shows him as part of the squad that won the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, and notes his last T20I as 22 February 2026 against South Africa as of the end of February. Reports this week say he has played two ODIs and 48 T20Is and is yet to play a Test. Rinku Singh (cricketer) +5

Retention and a Quieter IPL 2025

His 2025 IPL season was modest, with 206 runs in 13 games while batting lower down the order. Even so, KKR retained him for ₹13 crore. That price shows how much the franchise values his finishing. fancodefancode

Latest News: Ranji Trophy Century

The 2026-27 Ranji Trophy began on 11 October with 38 teams and 19 first-round matches. Rinku played for Uttar Pradesh against Bihar and rescued his team. UP were 85 for 3 when centuries from Madhav Kaushik and Rinku took them to 287 for 3. Rinku remained unbeaten on 109 off 164 balls with eight fours and three sixes, and shared a 202-run partnership with Kaushik. It was his tenth first-class hundred, and he now has more than 3,860 first-class runs in 54 matches at an average close to 60, with 23 fifties. Ranji Trophy 2026-27 Guide: Teams, Groups, Schedule, Squads, Live Streaming And Telecast Details - All You Need To Know +4

That red-ball record is one reason his name keeps coming up whenever people discuss a Test debut. He is also UP’s List A captain. Wikipedia

What’s Next for Rinku?

He has an enviable job: coming in at number five or six and finishing games. But India’s T20 batting depth is large, and his place depends on form. Strong Ranji numbers, a regular role at KKR and a good Vijay Hazare Trophy would keep him in the conversation for both limited-overs formats.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Rinku Singh? He turns 29 on 12 October 2026.

Where is Rinku Singh from? Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh.

What is Rinku Singh famous for? Five sixes in the last over of an IPL chase against Gujarat Titans in 2023.

Which IPL team does Rinku Singh play for? Kolkata Knight Riders.