Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Ajinkya Rahane had special praise for Rinku Singh after the franchise named him vice-captain ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League season.

Speaking at Knights Unplugged 3.0, Rahane underlined just how integral Rinku has become to the identity of the franchise.

“Obviously, and you kind of summed it up yourself, when we think about KKR, the first name that comes to our mind is Shah Rukh Khan; the very next name is Rinku Singh,” Rahane said.

RINKU’S RISE THROUGH THE RANKS

Rinku’s journey with the Kolkata Knight Riders has been one of persistence and gradual rise. Having spent seven years with the franchise, he did not always have the opportunities that many young players are afforded in the IPL. Often used as a substitute fielder in his early years, Rinku had to make the most of limited chances.

By consistently delivering in those moments, he worked his way into the core of the side and is now regarded as one of KKR’s most important players. His rise at the franchise level has also translated to the international stage, where he broke into India’s T20I setup and was part of the squad that went on to win the T20 World Cup in Ahmedabad.

KKR head coach Abhishek Nayar also reflected on Rinku’s journey and growth within the setup.

“I think it’s quite befitting because my first memory of coming to KKR and being part of the support staff was working with Rinku Singh. So now taking over as head coach, I think over the years we’ve seen Rinku Singh evolve as not only a cricketer but also as a leader for the past few years, a couple of years, while his performances have spoken for himself, I think off the field in a lot of ways, without saying a lot, he is someone that the team always looks forward to,” Nayar said.

He added that the timing felt right to hand Rinku more responsibility within the group.

“Now with the big power hitter, we wanted a little more responsibility for him to shoulder, and I feel it’s the perfect time after being a World Cup champion to come in and take the responsibility and help take the reins over,” he said.

RINKU ON VICE-CAPTAINCY DUTIES

Ahead of the new season, KKR confirmed Rinku Singh as vice-captain, a decision that reflects both his growth and standing within the team. Addressing the team and management at the event, Rinku spoke about what the role means to him.

“It feels wonderful. You have given me the opportunity to serve as vice-captain. Recently, Team India became world champions, and I was part of that journey. It is every player’s dream to represent Team India and win the World Cup, so that dream of mine has now been fulfilled.

As for the responsibility you have entrusted to me, sir, I will give my very best. I will work closely with my teammates and all of you, and carry out my duties with complete dedication.

I would also like to say this: please continue to support our team, whether we are going through good times or bad. Your support is needed even more during difficult phases. That is all I wish to say.

We, as a team, will certainly play well. We have a very strong squad. While the tournament takes place every year, we will strive to perform even better this time, and aim to bring the trophy home.”

Rinku’s appointment marks another milestone in a journey built on patience and performance, underlining the trust the franchise has placed in one of its most consistent performers.

– Ends

Chandigarh: For Kashvee Gautam, the progression now feels complete. After making her mark in ODIs and earning a Test cap earlier this month, the 22-year-old all-rounder has been drafted into India’s T20I squad for the five-match series in South Africa.

The Chandigarh cricketer’s steady rise—interrupted briefly by injuries—has been defined by resilience as much as by promise. Her return to the India side during the Australia tour signalled a fresh chapter, and the T20 call-up now places her firmly in the team’s plans ahead of the Women’s T20 World Cup in England.

A lively seamer with the ability to contribute down the order, Gautam has quietly built an impressive résumé. In the Women’s Premier League (WPL), she has featured in 18 matches for Gujarat Giants, picking up 19 wickets. She made her ODI debut against Sri Lanka in April 2025 and played in the one-off Test against Australia in Perth—each step reinforcing her growing stature.

Her inclusion in the BCCI’s Grade C central annual contracts for 2025-26 season further underlines the selectors’ confidence in her.

Gautam is not the only young all-rounder to catch the eye. Gujarat Giants teammate Anushka Sharma has got her maiden India call, capping a breakout phase in her career.

The 22-year-old from Madhya Pradesh impressed in her debut WPL season with 177 runs in seven matches. Sharma carried that form into India A’s title-winning run at the Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars T20 tournament in Bangkok where she accumulated 116 runs in five matches, including a top score of 47.

Together, Gautam and Sharma represent a clear direction in India’s squad-building: cricketers who add depth with both bat and ball, while raising the bar in the field.

Sharma did not bowl in the WPL but is known to be a handy off-break bowler. From Gwalior, Sharma has been described as a fearless player with high-intent, contributing both with the bat and ball for her state team in the last domestic season.

Their inclusion also hints at a broader strategy. With the T20 World Cup on the horizon, India would want to settle on a core group while strengthening the middle-order and expanding bowling options. The South Africa series, coming on the heels of India’s ODI World Cup triumph over the same opposition, offers the perfect testing ground.

Amanjot Kaur and Vaishnavi Sharma have been left out, signalling a shift in team combinations. Harmanpreet Kaur will continue to lead the women in blue and will have southpaw Smriti Mandhana as her deputy.

The five-match series begins in Durban on April 17 and 19, before moving to Johannesburg for the next two games on April 22 and 25. The final T20I will be played in Benoni on April 27.

The squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Sree Charani, Shreyanka Patil, Kashvee Gautam, Bharti Fulmali, Uma Chetry (wicketkeeper), Anushka Sharma.