Sweeping the floor to sweeping the bails: The story of Rinku Singh

Uttar Pradesh’s Rinku Singh worked as a sweeper to support his family at once, his destiny has changed drastically. The all-rounder fetched INR 80 lakhs in this year’s auction, the Kolkata Knight Riders bid heavily for the 20-year-old. He was taken to do mopping and sweeping job so that he could support his family. There have been many heartwarming stories in the Indian Premier League and Rinku Singh’s story is a tale to wonder about.

Rinku’s father Khanchandra delivers LPG cylinders from an LPG gas agency in Lucknow, where he lives with parents and four siblings in two tiny rooms within the gas agency’s storage compound. The 20-year-old though had started supporting his family financially with the meagre allowances and fee he would get for representing the State at the junior level but all his money would go in paying former loans that the family had taken from various people.

He had also won a motorbike for being the best player at a tournament in Delhi, which he gave to his father for distributing the heavy gas cylinders. Rinku Singh’s journey as a cricketer started from that day where he gifted a bike to his father, his father’s job was made a little easy, Rinku’s recent Indian Premier League contract has ensured a bit of happiness for his family.

I was expecting ₹20 lakh: Rinku Singh

At the IPL auction in Bengaluru, Rinku was expecting a deal worth his base price ₹20 lakh. An intense bidding war between Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders saw him fetching ₹80 lakh. “Socha tha 20 lakh mein jaoonga, (thought I would get 20 lakhs), but I was picked up for 80! The first thought that came to the mind was that I can contribute in my big brother’s wedding, and save up something for my sister’s wedding too. Aur ek achhe se ghar mein shift ho jaoonga (and I will move into a good house),” Rinku had told Indian Express after the IPL auction.

In nine Ranji Trophy games, the 20-year-old has averaged 49 accumulating a total of  692 runs. He was picked by the Kings XI Punjab in the last IPL season which he spent on the bench. His innings of 91 off 31 balls during Mumbai Indians’ selection trial changed his fortune during Mumbai Indians’ selection trial. It was this knock which led to a bidding war for the all-rounder.

Here’s the KKR full squad