Rinku Singh makes India debut, claims desire to lift his family out of adversity kept him going

Star Uttar Pradesh cricketer Rinku Singh on Friday (August 18) made his India debut in the opening T20I against Ireland in Malahide. The all-rounder from Aligarh and Karnataka pacer Prasidh Krishna were the two debutants in the game, which the Jasprit Bumrah-led side won by 2 runs via DLS Method.

Before embarking upon the tour of Ireland, Rinku Singh - who forced the selectors to notice his potential with constantly good performances in the IPL 2023 and in the domestic circuit - in an exclusive interview with JioCinema, reminisced his challenging journey and unwavering determination to earn his first call-up to the Indian team.

The explosive left-handed middle-order batter, when asked about getting the maiden India call-up and a dream come true moment, Rinku said, it was a result of hard work and he's going to fulfil his parents' dream. India vs Ireland: Rinku Singh makes his India debut, Prasidh Krishna also handed debut T20I cap

"It's a wonderful feeling because I have put in immense effort to reach this point. I started playing cricket nearly 10-12 years ago, and my parents always had one goal for me - representing the country. They believed that while many play in the IPL, only a select few make it to the Indian team. Thus, they wanted me to seize every opportunity in the IPL and work towards earning my place in the national side. And now, their dream is finally becoming a reality," he said.

Rinku narrated that he heard the news of his maiden India call-up from his friends in Noida, and claimed tears welled into his eyes after learning about his national selection.

"I was in Noida with my friends when I received the call about my selection. As soon as I heard the news, I immediately called my mother who became very emotional. Hearing her voice filled with tears of happiness made me emotional too. This moment was something we had been eagerly waiting for," the 25-year-old all-rounder said.

When asked to narrate his cricketing journey and at what age did he harbour the dream of playing for India, the UP lad said, "Countless hours of hard work and dedication have gone into earning this opportunity. My passion for cricket helped me navigate through limited support and financial struggles. The burning desire to provide a better life for my family fueled my determination to climb higher in this sport. With self-belief as my driving force, I grew stronger and embarked on this transformative journey.

Rinku further stated that his family was overjoyed after hearing the news of his national call-up. "They were overjoyed. My mother always urged me to give everything I had in order to earn that coveted call-up to the Indian team, and now it has finally happened. I am living their dream," he added further.

Rinku - who hails from a very humble background - has faced several hardships and worked hard to use cricket as a means to bring his family out of those struggles. "This desire to lift them out of adversity kept me going. It served as a constant source of motivation, propelling me forward in my journey," he added.

The all-rounder - who has played 31 IPL games so far - credited his family for playing an instrumental role at every step in his cricketing journey and it is their unwavering support that has helped him achieve whatever success he has.

"My family played an instrumental role in every step of my journey thus far. When they didn't have enough resources to support my career, my mother would borrow money from others just so that I could keep pursuing cricket. Where I stand today is a testament to the unwavering support they have provided me with," the southpaw said.

When asked about his impressive show in the IPL for his franchise Kolkata Knight Riders and the learnings from the cash-rich league especially on the mental stiffness, Rinku said, "The approach remains the same, but there's undoubtedly more pressure when playing at the international level. My aim is to maintain the same composure during batting and focus on fulfilling my role within the team - just as I did during the IPL."

Having made a positive stride towards his India dream, Rinku now looks forward to doing well on the big stage and making a name for himself by helping Team India win matches to the best of his capabilities.

"I have already achieved my initial goal of being selected for the Indian team. From here on out, I will give everything within my capabilities and strive for excellence in order to contribute towards achieving our team's desired results. My intention is to remain part of this incredible journey for as long as possible," Rinku signed off.