India’s Rinku Singh Set for Test Stage, Vikram Rathour Affirms

Since making his T20I debut last year, Rinku Singh has been an outstanding player for Team India, fast becoming one of the world’s best finishers in the game. The left-handed hitter has an outstanding record for the Men in Blue, amassing 416 runs at an average of 83.2 and a strike rate of 176.3 in 20 matches (15 innings) despite not being selected for India’s T20 World Cup team.

In two matches for the national squad last year, Rinku also made his ODI debut. Over the next ten years, he is anticipated to be a vital member of the Indian white-ball cricket team. Renowned for his potent hitting and effortless boundary-clearing, Rinku has won over many, including Vikram Rathour, the former batting coach of India. Rathour, whose job was terminated following the 2024 T20 World Cup, has made an important forecast: he believes Rinku will succeed in Test cricket.

“One of the players to have moved up the ladder in the past two seasons is Rinku Singh, who has played two ODIs and 20 T20Is, but can’t be called a regular in the national side yet. He is a fantastic finisher in short-format cricket, but also averages 54.70 after 69 first-class innings,” Rathour told the Press Trust of India (PTI). “When I see him bat in nets, I can’t find any technical reasons why Rinku cannot be a successful Test batter. I understand he has made his name as a terrific finisher in T20 cricket, but if you look at his first-class record, he is averaging in high 50s. He is also blessed with a very calm temperament. So all these factors indicate that, if given an opportunity, he can develop into a Test cricketer,” Rathour added.

In red-ball cricket for Uttar Pradesh in recent years, Rinku has been among the most reliable players. With 3,173 runs in 47 games at an average of 54.70, his first-class record is outstanding. He traveled with the India-A team to South Africa and played in the home series against the England Lions. As part of a two-match Test series, India’s next Test match is against Bangladesh in September.