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India's star finisher Rinku Singh isn't just known for his explosive batting but also for his playful off-field antics. He has frequently been in the spotlight for his habit of requesting bats from senior players, most notably Virat Kohli. After viral clips showed him persistently chasing Kohli for a bat, the left-handed batsman has finally shared his perspective on the story and the impact it had on him.
The narrative gained significant traction during the 2024 IPL season when videos of Rinku asking Kohli for a bat circulated widely on social media, becoming a popular trend. This portrayal painted a picture of him constantly bothering the former Indian captain. The story developed further when Rinku accidentally broke the first bat Kohli gave him and had to approach the batting legend for a replacement, a request Kohli eventually granted.
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While the interactions were lighthearted, Rinku admitted that the constant scrutiny from cameras made him self-conscious about his actions. Consequently, during the 2025 IPL season, he was noticeably absent from Kohli's side. Instead, another emerging cricketer from Uttar Pradesh, Swastik Chikara, was seen eagerly following the Royal Challengers Bengaluru star.
“Main thoda zyada badnaam ho gaya tha bat ke chakkar mai (I became infamous because of the bat). I used to meet him (Kohli) normally and then asked for a bat. The cameraman would follow me. It wasn’t being perceived well. It wasn’t good for me and bhaiya (Kohli) too as videos of bat were going viral," Rinku told News24 Sports.
“I wasn’t seen with Virat bhai this time (IPL 2025). I did get Mahi bhai’s bat and Rohit bhai’s bat. It’s a big deal for me to get the bats from such players. For Chikara, it was a big deal to be around such a big player. He became his shadow. He learnt a lot from him,” he added.
On the professional front, Rinku's career continues its upward trajectory. He has been named in India's 15-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 in the UAE. The 27-year-old is in excellent form, having recently scored a century in the UP T20 League, and aims to bring that momentum to the international stage when India begins its Asia Cup campaign against the UAE on September 10.
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