In Indian cricket, doing well in domestic games can get you to the national team fast, and Rinku Singh just played a superb innings that people are noticing. Team India isn’t sure if captain Shubman Gill is well enough to play in the second Test match so that they might call up someone from the domestic league. Most people are talking about all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, but Rinku’s name wasn’t mentioned much until now. This past Tuesday, during a Ranji Trophy match that kept getting interrupted by rain, the left-handed batter from Uttar Pradesh hit an incredible 98 runs without being out against Tamil Nadu. And guess what? National selector Pragyan Ojha was watching him from the stands! This great batting not only kept UP in the game but also reminded everyone that Rinku is really good at red-ball cricket.
The match at Ekana Stadium in Lucknow didn’t have lots of scoring because the pitch wasn’t great, even though the weather was gloomy. Tamil Nadu scored a good 455 in their first innings, which meant UP had to bat well in response. UP had a good start, with Abhishek Goswami and Aryan Juyal adding 75 runs.
But then left-arm spinner P Vidyuth bowled amazingly, taking three quick wickets. He got Goswami out with a ball that turned and hit him on the leg, and then he got past Juyal’s defences in the next over. Vidyuth also caught a fast ball off his own bowling to get Karan Sharma out, making the score 182/4 for UP. Then seamer Saravana Kumar got Aaradhya Yadav to edge the ball to the keeper, making it 191/5. This collapse could’ve ruined the innings, but Rinku stepped up and saved the day.
Rinku Singh, who everyone loves for his superb batting in T20 matches in the IPL and international games, came in and showed how much experience he has in first-class cricket. He has played 51 matches and has an excellent average of 57.39. He and Shivam Mavi worked together to steady the innings, wearing down the Tamil Nadu bowlers who weren’t able to break through.
The seamers were bowling accurately, but Rinku handled them efficiently, happy to tire them out instead of trying to score too fast. He was terrific against the spinners R Sai Kishore and Vidyuth, using his feet to hit them for three huge sixes. His footwork was great, making it hard for the spinners to get comfortable. All nine of his boundaries were well-timed drives on the off-side, showing how good his technique is, even on a slow pitch. TN captain Sai Kishore didn’t help by holding back Vidyuth after his early wickets; the spinner had to watch as Rinku and Mavi formed an important partnership.
Mavi played aggressively, scoring 54 off 62 balls, with seven fours and a six, before getting out to Saravana Kumar. Then Shivam Sharma played stubbornly, helping UP reach 339/6 before bad light stopped play early.
The match now depends on who gets the first-innings lead, but Rinku’s effort has changed things. It must hurt to be stuck on 98 runs, just short of a century, because he didn’t get to face many balls at the end, but it shows how well he can adapt. Unlike many T20 players, Rinku has lots of first-class experience (eight centuries and 22 fifties), which shows he can play longer formats, even if he doesn’t consistently score big when batting at No. 5.
This couldn’t have happened at a better time. With questions about India’s Test team and Gill’s fitness, Rinku’s performance in front of Ojha might bring him into the selection discussion. He has proven that he can handle pressure, adjust to different situations, and perform when the team needs him, which are essential in all formats. As UP tries to finish strongly, everyone will be watching to see if this innings gets him back into the national team.