In the current Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign, Rinku Singh appears to be at the top of his game. He led Uttar Pradesh in the competition and, on Friday, at the Sanosara Cricket Ground A in Rajkot, he blasted a century against Chandigarh, building on his fifty in the previous match against Hyderabad.
Opener Aryan Juyal led the way for UP with a brilliant knock of 134 in 118 balls, making Chandigarh, who won the toss and decided to field first, regret their choice. However, Rinku elevated the game with an undefeated 106 off just 60 deliveries.
With boundaries coming all over the place, Rinku did not hesitate in the slightest if the ball was there for the taking. It was a captain’s knock, as Rinku demonstrated why he was chosen for India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad instead of Jitesh Sharma with 11 fours and four sixes.
With the exception of Juyal and Rinku, another up-and-coming Indian player, Dhruv Jurel, also performed admirably, scoring 67 from 67 to force UP to set a target of 368.
The run of success also coincides with a crucial point in Rinku’s season, as India is scheduled to play New Zealand in a Twenty20 International series that is anticipated to be the last phase of preparation before the Twenty20 World Cup. As he returns to the shortest format, strong performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy help him stay match sharp and gain confidence.
Consistent domestic returns give the team management confidence in Rinku’s preparedness, especially in high-pressure positions further down the line. Sustained performance across competitions could be crucial in determining his role during the impending international assignment, since spots in the team are hotly disputed.
While India’s selectors closely monitor how this momentum carries over into the international window, Uttar Pradesh will be hoping their captain keeps leading from the front as the competition goes on.
