The 2026 IPL is turning into a nightmare for Rinku Singh. The left-handed batter has looked a pale shadow of himself in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, and runs seem to have dried up for him at this point.
His trouble worsened on Friday night at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad against the Gujarat Titans, where he lasted just two balls in the middle, scoring one run. In the five innings he has come out to bat this year, the KKR vice-captain has managed just 79 runs, with his highest being 33 not out against the Mumbai Indians.
Things only got more frustrating as the KKR think tank didn’t seem to back the left-hander enough, something that was evident in the clash against the Gujarat Titans. Even Anukul Roy, who hasn’t been a regular in the XI, was promoted ahead of Rinku, while he was pushed down to No. 7. The move didn’t quite pay off either, as Anukul’s innings was cut short by Kagiso Rabada, sending him back to the pavilion quickly.
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Manoj Tiwari gives his statement
Former India batter Manoj Tiwari expressed his disappointment over how Rinku was handled in the game against Gujarat, stressing that the team should be boosting his confidence at this stage, not denting it further with such decisions.
“You changed the entire batting order. You sent Anukul Roy higher up. You just sent Rinku Singh an indirect signal that you don't have any faith in him. Whoever is thinking in their right mind would send Rinku higher up, as he has been your asset for such a long time", Tiwari told Cricbuzz.
“Just look at Rinku, when he came back after getting out. He was completely heartbroken. He knew, deep inside, that it shouldn't have happened to him. When you had to build his confidence, you did the exact opposite by sending Rinku down the order. If KKR continues playing like this, they will remain at the bottom."
KKR yet to win
The three-time champions are still searching for their first win and sit at the bottom of the points table with just one point from six games, marking their poorest start in any IPL season so far. Tiwary also pointed out that recent performances suggest something is off within the KKR camp, hinting that the team environment doesn’t seem quite right at the moment.
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Manoj Tiwari said, “KKR fans have seen three titles. But this year, your main bowlers got injured, but it wasn't like that; all the strength was taken away. The team was still strong. But something is not right, be it the atmosphere or the combination,”
“It was a disappointing performance,” he further added.
KKR is set to take on Rajasthan Royals next, with the match scheduled for Sunday, April 19, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
