He has batted in just one international match but Rinku Singh is already a household name, thanks to his five successive sixes in IPL 2023.

Playing for Kolkata Knight Riders, he smashed the five sixes in the final over against Gujarat Titans to steer his side to a sensational win.

Rinku admits that moment changed his life forever.

“Those five sixes changed my life. People remember me for that moment. I was feeling great when they took my name and the love they have been showering me with,” he said during an interaction with his Indian teammate Ravi Bishnoi on bcci.tv.

Rinku earned his maiden India call-up for the ongoing T20I series in Ireland, where he scored 38 runs at a strike rate of 180.90 in the second match.

Rinku said that he always intends to bat until the end, going for the big hits in the closing stages of the match.

“I was incredibly excited to bat in the opening contest (1st T20I). But it’s fine (that rain washed out the play). We won.

“I always plan to bat till the end, like I do in IPL. I was going for my shots in the final two-three overs.

“The plan is to stay cool and calm, and that’s what I was doing,” he added.

Rinku is impressed with the way this young Indian side has performed in Ireland, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-game series.

“We have been playing good cricket. We have won the series and would be aiming to finish on a high,” Rinku said.

KKR assistant coach Abhishek Nayar has also been thrilled with Rinku’s transformation.

“I have seen Rinku evolve as an individual. The first time I saw him in the KKR set up, and spent time with him when he came to Mumbai, he was very shy and a guy with very low self belief,” Nayar recalled.

“Overall, Rinku Singh has been a tremendous story... a rags to riches sort of story but with a lot of hard work and perseverance,” he said.

“But one thing which has been a standout for Rinku is the fact that he is always has this ability to work hard, listen and learn... he has always been hungry to learn. “He is an unbelievable guy in the dressing room.”

Written with PTI inputs