Follow UsAndhra were sitting pretty with 470 on the board in their first innings of the first Ranji game of the season against Uttar Pradesh (UP). Having also reduced the opposition to 178/5, a first-innings lead looked inevitable for Andhra in Kanpur, and that's when Rinku Singh, India’s T20I star with a great first-class record, stepped up with a 165* and helped UP gain three points.
He formed a significant 112-run partnership with Vipraj Nigam, which became the backbone of the revival. Their stand added vital runs, stabilising the innings and shifting momentum back in UP’s favour. As Rinku built his innings, the bowlers had to work harder for every run.
Rinku’s knock was composed yet effective. While the pitch offered challenges and the conditions were not easy, he showed a lot of patience and batted 273 deliveries in his unbeaten innings. As the partnership grew, UP began to inch ahead of the deficit.
By the time the eighth wicket fell, UP had turned what looked like a forlorn position into a possibility of a first-innings lead, which Rinku achieved along with Mavi.
For Rinku, the knock adds further proof that his red‑ball game is maturing alongside his white‑ball exploits. He already averages 54.68 with the bat in first-class cricket. If he continues playing like this, his case for being selected in other formats for India becomes even stronger.