Rinku Singh IPL Journey: Stats, Price and Career Records

Rinku Singh’s IPL journey is one of the clearest examples of patience turning into opportunity. He entered the league without a major reputation, spent several seasons on the edge of Kolkata Knight Riders’ playing XI, and eventually became one of the most recognized finishers in Indian cricket.

His breakthrough did not arrive immediately. Rinku made his IPL debut for KKR in 2018 but scored only 29 runs from four matches. Opportunities remained limited over the next few seasons. Everything changed from 2022 onward, when he began receiving regular middle-order responsibility.

The defining moment arrived on April 9, 2023. Kolkata needed 28 runs from the final five balls against Gujarat Titans, and Rinku hit Yash Dayal for five consecutive sixes to complete one of the most remarkable chases in IPL history. He finished that season with 474 runs at an average of 59.25 and established himself as KKR’s specialist finisher.

His value increased just as dramatically as his reputation. KKR paid ₹80 lakh for him in 2018, bought him back for ₹55 lakh in the 2022 auction, and then retained him for ₹13 crore ahead of the 2025 season. He remained with Kolkata at the same ₹13 crore figure for 2026.

Rinku Singh IPL Stats by Season

Through the end of IPL 2026, Rinku had scored 1,394 IPL runs at an average of 34.00 and a strike rate close to 146, with six half-centuries and a highest score of 83 not out.

The progression is easy to see. His first three playing seasons produced only 77 runs combined. From 2022 onward, he became a regular contributor, and the 474-run 2023 season transformed his career.

Rinku Singh’s Early IPL Journey

Rinku first entered the IPL system when Kings XI Punjab bought him for ₹10 lakh ahead of the 2017 season, although he did not make his IPL debut for the franchise.

Kolkata Knight Riders then bought him for ₹80 lakh at the 2018 auction after a bidding contest that began from his ₹20 lakh base price.

His early IPL numbers were modest.

Rinku scored 29 runs in 2018 and 37 in 2019. He played only one match in 2020, making 11. He did not play during the 2021 season.

KKR nevertheless continued to invest in him.

That faith became important when the squad was rebuilt for 2022. Kolkata bought Rinku again, this time for ₹55 lakh after bidding against Lucknow Super Giants.

The 2022 season finally gave him a consistent opportunity.

He scored 174 runs from seven matches at a strike rate of 148.72. His numbers were not enormous, but several innings showed that he could handle late-over pressure.

One of the most memorable came against Lucknow Super Giants. Rinku smashed 40 from only 15 balls and almost completed a dramatic chase before KKR lost by two runs. That innings helped establish him as a player capable of producing runs quickly at the death.

Rinku Singh’s Five Sixes Against Gujarat Titans

No moment defines Rinku Singh’s IPL career more clearly than his five consecutive sixes against Gujarat Titans in 2023.

Gujarat had scored 204/4 in Ahmedabad, leaving Kolkata Knight Riders a target of 205.

Venkatesh Iyer’s 83 kept KKR in the chase, but Rashid Khan’s hat-trick appeared to have ended Kolkata’s hopes.

Rinku refused to give up.

He hit a six and a four from the final two balls of the 19th over, reducing the equation to 29 runs from the final six balls.

Umesh Yadav took a single from the first delivery of Yash Dayal’s last over.

That left Rinku needing 28 runs from five balls.

He then produced six, six, six, six and six.

KKR won by three wickets, with Rinku unbeaten on 48 from 21 balls. He had struck six sixes in total during the innings.

The achievement was remarkable because the required equation left almost no margin for error. Four sixes and a four would not have been enough unless extras were involved. Rinku effectively needed maximums from nearly every ball.

He also attacked different lengths.

Dayal attempted full deliveries and changes of line, but Rinku repeatedly found the leg-side and straight boundaries.

The over immediately became part of IPL history and changed how Rinku was viewed. He was no longer simply a useful domestic batter. He had become one of the league’s most feared finishers.

Rinku Singh’s Breakthrough 2023 Season

The five-six over was only one part of an outstanding 2023 campaign.

Rinku finished the season with 474 runs at an average of 59.25 and a strike rate of 149.53. He also hit 29 sixes and scored four half-centuries.

His consistency was important because KKR frequently relied on him after the top order had lost wickets.

Against Lucknow Super Giants in Kolkata’s final league match, Rinku almost completed another impossible chase.

KKR needed 41 from the final two overs. Rinku attacked Naveen-ul-Haq in the 19th and then hit 16 runs from the final three balls of the match. He finished unbeaten on 67 from 33, but Kolkata fell just short.

By the end of the tournament, he had moved from squad player to one of KKR’s central batting figures.

Rinku Singh’s IPL Auction Prices and Retention Value

Rinku’s IPL salary history reflects the speed of his rise.

He was first bought by Kings XI Punjab for ₹10 lakh in 2017.

KKR then paid ₹80 lakh for him in 2018 and retained him at that amount through the next cycle.

At the 2022 mega auction, Rinku returned to KKR for ₹55 lakh. He remained at that price through the 2024 season.

Then came the major jump.

Ahead of IPL 2025, Kolkata made Rinku one of their major retained players and assigned him a ₹13 crore retention value. The official IPL retention list confirmed a ₹13 crore deduction for him.

KKR retained him again for 2026, keeping him at ₹13 crore.

Few IPL careers show such a dramatic progression in valuation.

From ₹10 lakh with Punjab to ₹13 crore with KKR, Rinku’s rise reflects how strongly his role changed after 2022.

Rinku Singh’s Finishing Role for KKR

Rinku’s greatest value to Kolkata comes from his ability to bat under pressure at No. 5 or No. 6.

Finishing is difficult because the batter may enter with only 20 or 25 balls remaining.

There is little time to assess the pitch.

Rinku’s strength is his ability to attack quickly without relying on only one scoring area. He is particularly strong through midwicket and long-on, but he can also hit straight and manipulate pace behind square.

His 2023 season proved that his game was not limited to desperate final overs.

He could rebuild after early wickets, rotate strike and then accelerate.

That became even clearer in 2026.

Against Lucknow Super Giants, KKR collapsed to 93/7 on a difficult surface. Rinku responded with an unbeaten 83 from 51 balls and hit four sixes in the final over to drag Kolkata to 155/7. KKR eventually won after a Super Over.

He also scored an unbeaten 53 against Rajasthan Royals during another recovery chase and finished the season with 295 runs at an average of 59.00.

Famous Rinku Singh IPL Innings

48* vs Gujarat Titans, 2023

This remains his most famous IPL innings.

Rinku scored 48 not out from 21 balls and hit five consecutive sixes from the final five deliveries to win the match.

67* vs Lucknow Super Giants, 2023

Rinku nearly completed another miracle at Eden Gardens.

He finished unbeaten on 67 from 33 balls as KKR fell narrowly short in the chase.

40 vs Lucknow Super Giants, 2022

Before the five-six over made him famous, this innings offered one of the first major signs of his finishing ability.

Rinku smashed 40 from 15 balls and almost stole victory from an unlikely position.

83* vs Lucknow Super Giants, 2026

This innings demonstrated a more complete version of Rinku.

He did not simply arrive for a late cameo. He rescued a collapsing batting lineup and then accelerated at the end, finishing unbeaten on 83 from 51 balls.

19* from 6 Balls vs Rajasthan Royals, 2025

Rinku showed his ability to contribute even when he received very little time at the crease, smashing an unbeaten 19 from only six deliveries at Eden Gardens.

Rinku Singh’s India Career

Rinku’s IPL performances earned him an India debut in August 2023 against Ireland.

His international role closely resembled his KKR job: bat in the lower middle order and finish T20 innings.

Through July 2026, Rinku had played 48 T20 internationals and scored 702 runs at an average of 36.95 and a strike rate of 156.35. He had three T20I half-centuries and a highest score of 69.

He also played two ODIs, scoring 55 runs at a strike rate above 134.

Rinku’s most productive early T20I innings included an unbeaten 68 against South Africa and an unbeaten 69 against Afghanistan.

His ability to finish innings kept him involved in India’s T20 plans, and he was recalled specifically for the finishing role ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup.

By 2026, he was no longer viewed only as an IPL success story. He had become part of India’s specialist T20 finishing options.

Rinku Singh’s Domestic Cricket Background

Rinku’s reputation as a power hitter can make it easy to overlook his red-ball background.

He has represented Uttar Pradesh extensively in domestic cricket and built a strong first-class record before becoming an IPL star.

His 2018-19 Ranji Trophy season was particularly impressive.

Rinku scored 953 runs from 13 innings at an average of 105.89. He struck four centuries and three fifties and finished among the competition’s leading run-scorers.

That season demonstrated that he was much more than a late-overs slogger.

He had the technique and patience to bat for long periods.

His domestic form continued in later seasons. During the 2025-26 campaign, he scored 421 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and produced major Ranji Trophy contributions, including 176 against Tamil Nadu.

This broader background helps explain why Rinku can rebuild an innings when required.

His finishing power attracts the headlines, but domestic first-class cricket helped develop the batting foundation underneath it.

Rinku Singh’s IPL Career Records

Through IPL 2026, Rinku had scored 1,394 runs from 62 innings.

His career average stood at 34.00, while his strike rate was approximately 145.97.

He had hit 114 fours and 67 sixes and recorded six half-centuries. His highest IPL score was the unbeaten 83 against Lucknow Super Giants in 2026.

His best season for total runs remains 2023, when he scored 474.

However, 2026 produced his highest season average at 59.00 and his first two IPL scores above fifty since his breakthrough campaign.

Those numbers show an important progression.

Rinku initially became famous because of one extraordinary over. His later performances have shown that his IPL career is much broader than those five sixes.

FAQs

How many runs has Rinku Singh scored in the IPL?

Rinku Singh has scored 1,394 IPL runs through the 2026 season at an average of 34.00 and a strike rate close to 146.

What is Rinku Singh’s IPL price?

Kolkata Knight Riders retained Rinku Singh for ₹13 crore ahead of IPL 2025 and kept him at the same value for 2026.

Who did Rinku Singh hit for five consecutive sixes?

Rinku hit Gujarat Titans left-arm pacer Yash Dayal for five consecutive sixes in the final over of their IPL 2023 match in Ahmedabad.

How many runs did Rinku score in the five-sixes match?

He finished unbeaten on 48 from 21 balls as KKR chased 205 and won by three wickets.

What is Rinku Singh’s highest IPL score?

His highest IPL score is 83 not out, made against Lucknow Super Giants in 2026.

How many T20I runs has Rinku Singh scored for India?

Through July 2026, Rinku had scored 702 runs from 48 T20Is at a strike rate of 156.35.