In an electrifying display during Thursday’s UPT20 match in Lucknow, Rinku Singh showcased his exceptional cricketing skills. Leading the Meerut Mavericks as captain, he delivered a breathtaking performance, smashing eight sixes in his 48-ball innings to guide his team to a six-wicket victory over Dhruv Jurel’s Gaur Gorakhpur Lions at the Ekana Stadium. Chasing a target of 168 runs, Rinku’s unbeaten knock of 108 runs came with just seven balls to spare.
Rinku reached his century in a record-breaking 45 balls, thrilling fans by hitting a hat-trick of sixes off Gorakhpur bowler Vasu Vats in the final over. With an explosive strike rate of 225, his innings included seven fours and eight towering sixes, highlighting his dominance on the pitch.
This impressive victory propelled Meerut to third place in the rankings, further solidifying Rinku’s case for selection in the upcoming Asia Cup in 2025. The notable absence of Washington Sundar from the squad has raised eyebrows among cricket enthusiasts.
Addressing Rinku’s selection, chief selector Ajit Agarkar remarked, “He [Sundar] has consistently been in our considerations. Currently, we are equipped with two wrist spinners, Varun and Kuldeep, along with Axar, who has been performing well. In situations requiring four spinners, Sundar could be in the mix. However, we felt it was essential to include an extra batter in Rinku. With only 15 spots available, if there were 16, he would have made the cut.”
On the other hand, Gorakhpur struggled to reach a total of 167, with contributions from Jurel (38 runs), Akashdeep Nath (23 runs), and others. Nishant Kushwaha also had a commendable innings, scoring 37 runs. Nevertheless, Rinku’s masterclass made the run chase look effortless, securing a well-deserved win for his team.
