Rinku Singh found himself unexpectedly in the spotlight during IPL 2024 after a video showed him asking Virat Kohli for his bat ahead of a Kolkata Knight Riders match. The footage quickly spread across social media.
It drew attention to a rather ordinary moment that spiraled into a widely discussed topic. The incident highlighted the scrutiny young players face when interacting with big stars - especially in leagues like the IPL.
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Rinku Singh's bat incident with Virat Kohli
Rinku revealed that the video didn't portray him in the best light. He explained that he had accidentally damaged a bat gifted by Kohli. And as a result, the RCB star was unwilling to give him another.
"I had become a little too infamous because of the bat. I used to meet him normally and then asked for a bat. The cameraman would follow me. It wasn't being perceived well. It wasn't good for me or for bhaiya (Kohli) either, as videos of the bat were going viral," Rinku told News 24.
The incident left Rinku wary of approaching Kohli for equipment in future matches. Instead, during IPL 2024, he opted to use bats from other icons like MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma.
"This time, I wasn't seen with Virat Bhai. I took Mahi Bhai's bat this time, and also Rohit Bhai's bat. It's a really big deal for me because getting bats from such big players is a huge thing," he added.
More: Cheteshwar Pujara IPL career: Full record and list of every team the retired India star played for
Rinku Singh was selected for India Asia Cup 2025 squad
Rinku's IPL 2024 season was relatively low-key - facing only 113 balls, hinting at a limited role in KKR under mentor Gautam Gambhir.
His struggle to make the T20 World Cup 2024 squad and competition for batting slots in Team India suggest that his place in the national side is not guaranteed.
Performances like his IPL outings will continue to influence selectors' decisions. However, despite another underpar performance in IPL 2025, he managed to keep his place in the India T20I squad for the Asia Cup 2025.