KKR Star Rinku Singh to don captaincy hat before IPL 2025, to lead UP in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25

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Rinku Singh, a rising star in Indian cricket and a key player for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), is set to make his captaincy debut at the senior level as he leads Uttar Pradesh in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25.

This marks a significant milestone in Rinku's career as he steps into a leadership role previously held by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who captained UP during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy earlier this season.

The 26-year-old has already shown promise as a leader, having captained Meerut Mavericks to the UPT20 League title earlier this year. His stellar performance included 210 runs at a strike rate of 161.54, mostly batting as a finisher.

Rinku's appointment comes at a time when KKR are yet to announce their captain for IPL 2025. While Ajinkya Rahane and Venkatesh Iyer are seen as frontrunners, a strong leadership display by Rinku in the Vijay Hazare Trophy could bolster his case for the role. He has been part of the KKR setup since 2018 and was among the core players retained ahead of the IPL 2025 auction, alongside stars like Sunil Narine and Andre Russell.

Despite the speculation, Rinku remains focused on his immediate goal of leading UP to a Vijay Hazare Trophy triumph. "I am not thinking too much about KKR's captaincy. My focus is on Uttar Pradesh and helping my team reclaim the trophy we last won in 2015-16," he told ESPNCrinfo.

The Vijay Hazare Trophy, which starts on December 21, holds added significance this year as selectors eye players for India's ODI squad ahead of the Champions Trophy in February. Rinku, a regular in India's T20I setup, has limited ODI experience with just two appearances. However, his List A record is impressive, with 1899 runs at an average of 48.69, including a century and 17 half-centuries.

UP will open their campaign against Jammu and Kashmir, followed by matches against Mizoram, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Chandigarh, and Vidarbha. As Rinku takes on this new challenge, all eyes will be on how he performs under pressure-a potential preview of his readiness for greater responsibilities with KKR.