Rinku Singh created history in Indian cricket by scoring an unbeaten 165 runs for Uttar Pradesh against Andhra Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season opener at Green Park, Kanpur. The left-handed batsman from Aligarh not only played a match-saving knock but also achieved a special milestone that put him ahead of cricket legends Rahul Dravid and Yashasvi Jaiswal in the list of India’s highest first-class batting averages.
Rinku Singh First-Class Average Reaches 57.39
With his brilliant performance against Andhra Pradesh, Rinku Singh first-class average jumped from 54.68 to an impressive 57.39. This remarkable average now places Rinku Singh at the tenth position among Indian cricketers with a minimum of 50 innings in first-class cricket. The achievement is particularly special because Rinku Singh surpassed former India captain Rahul Dravid, experienced wicketkeeper-batsman Saba Karim, and current India Test opener Yashasvi Jaiswal in this elite list.
The Rinku Singh first-class average of 57.39 is a number that speaks volumes about his consistency and ability to score big runs in domestic cricket. Playing his 51st first-class match, Rinku Singh has now scored over 3,500 runs in the format, showing that he is not just a T20 specialist but also a quality red-ball batsman.
Match Situation When Rinku Singh Came to Bat
The match between Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh started with Andhra choosing to bat first after winning the toss. The visitors posted a massive first-innings total of 470 runs, with opener KS Bharat scoring 142 runs and Shaik Rasheed contributing 136 runs. The two batsmen put together a strong partnership of 194 runs for the second wicket, putting Andhra in a commanding position.
When Uttar Pradesh came out to bat, they made a decent start with openers adding runs. Madhav Kaushik and Aryan Juyal built a partnership of 119 runs for the second wicket, giving hope to the home team. However, things changed quickly when both batsmen got out in the same over. Uttar Pradesh found themselves in trouble at 146 for three wickets when Rinku Singh walked out to bat.
The situation became worse as Uttar Pradesh kept losing wickets at regular intervals. The score read 178 for five wickets at one stage, and then 220 for six wickets after Aaradhya Yadav got out. At this point, Uttar Pradesh was still far behind Andhra’s total, and the match seemed to be slipping away from them. This is when Rinku Singh decided to take control and play one of the best innings of his first-class career.
Rinku Singh 165 Rescue Act for Uttar Pradesh
Rinku Singh showed great patience and determination throughout his innings. He faced 273 deliveries and hit 13 boundaries and two sixes during his unbeaten knock of 165 runs. The innings was not just about scoring runs but also about spending time at the crease and tiring out the Andhra bowlers.
The turning point in Uttar Pradesh’s innings came when Vipraj Nigam joined Rinku Singh at the crease. The two batsmen put together a crucial partnership of 112 runs for the seventh wicket. This partnership changed the course of the match and gave Uttar Pradesh hope of avoiding a big first-innings deficit. Vipraj Nigam contributed 42 runs in this stand, providing solid support from the other end while Rinku Singh continued to bat with focus.
After Vipraj Nigam got out, Rinku Singh found another partner in Shivam Sharma, who scored 36 runs. The two added valuable runs to the total, taking Uttar Pradesh closer to Andhra’s first-innings score. Rinku Singh continued batting with the tail-enders, showing his ability to farm the strike and protect the lower-order batsmen.
On the fourth and final day of the match, Rinku Singh reached his eighth first-class century. He kept batting patiently and eventually helped Uttar Pradesh take a one-run lead over Andhra Pradesh. His unbeaten 165 runs proved to be the difference between the two teams, as Uttar Pradesh earned three valuable points from the match by securing the first-innings lead.
Rinku Singh Career Statistics in First-Class Cricket
Looking at Rinku Singh career numbers, it becomes clear why he has such a high first-class average. In 51 first-class matches, Rinku Singh has scored 3,501 runs at an average of 57.39. His record includes eight centuries and 22 half-centuries in the format, showing his consistency at the domestic level.
Before this innings, Rinku Singh highest score in first-class cricket was 163 not out, which he scored for Uttar Pradesh against Services in 2018. Other notable scores in his first-class career include 150 against Saurashtra in 2019, two scores of 149 against Tripura and Assam in 2018 and 2019 respectively, 127 not out against Nagaland in 2022, 122 not out against Maharashtra in 2017, and 108 against Orissa in 2023.
Rinku Singh made his first-class debut for Uttar Pradesh in November 2016 during the Ranji Trophy. Since then, he has been a consistent performer for his state team. His best season came in 2018-19 when he finished the Ranji Trophy with 953 runs in ten matches, including 803 runs in the group stage alone. That performance established him as one of the top batsmen in domestic cricket.
India’s Highest First-Class Batting Averages List
The list of India’s highest first-class batting averages is topped by the legendary Vijay Merchant, who scored over 13,000 runs at an average of 71.64. Merchant remains the gold standard for consistency in Indian first-class cricket. Following him are Ajay Sharma with an average of 67.46 and Sarfaraz Khan with 65.98.
Other names in the top ten include Shantanu Sugwekar (63.10), KC Ibrahim (61.24), Vinod Kambli (59.67), Vijay Hazare (58.38), Surendra Bhave (58.18), and the great Sachin Tendulkar (57.84). Rinku Singh now sits at the tenth position with his average of 57.39, just behind Tendulkar.
What makes Rinku Singh achievement even more special is that he has gone past several prominent names to reach this position. Rahul Dravid, one of India’s greatest Test batsmen and former captain, had a first-class average slightly lower than Rinku Singh current mark. Saba Karim, who played international cricket for India and had a long domestic career, averaged 56.66 in first-class cricket. Current India Test opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is considered one of the brightest young talents in Indian cricket, has a first-class average of 56.50.
An interesting fact about Rinku Singh and Afghanistan cricketer Zia-ul-Haq is that they are now the only two batsmen with at least 50 first-class innings who average over 55 without scoring a double-century. While other batsmen on the high-average list have multiple double-hundreds and even triple-centuries, Rinku Singh has built his impressive average through consistency and converting starts into big hundreds.
Rinku Singh Journey in Cricket
Rinku Singh journey in cricket has been remarkable. Born on October 12, 1997, in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, Rinku Singh started playing cricket at a young age. He represented Uttar Pradesh at the under-16, under-19, and under-23 levels before making his way into the senior team. He also played for Central Zone at the under-19 level, showing his talent early in his career.
Rinku Singh made his List A cricket debut for Uttar Pradesh in March 2014 at the age of just 16. In that match, he top-scored with 83 runs, announcing his arrival on the domestic cricket scene. Two years later, in November 2016, he made his first-class debut in the Ranji Trophy.
His performances in the Ranji Trophy caught the attention of IPL scouts, and in February 2017, Rinku Singh was bought by Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) for the Indian Premier League. However, he did not get many opportunities with Punjab. In January 2018, Kolkata Knight Riders bought him for 80 lakh rupees in the IPL auction.
Rinku Singh breakthrough in the IPL came in 2023 when he scored 474 runs at a strike rate close to 150. His most memorable moment came in a match against Gujarat Titans when he hit five sixes in the final over bowled by Yash Dayal, successfully chasing down 29 runs in the last over – the highest-ever chase in the last over in IPL history.
His consistent performances in the IPL and domestic cricket earned him a call-up to the Indian T20I team in August 2023. Since then, Rinku Singh has become a regular member of India’s T20I squad. In 33 T20I matches, he has scored 546 runs at an average of 42.00. He has also played two ODI matches for India, scoring 55 runs.
Rinku Singh Preparation for Australia Tour
The timing of Rinku Singh big hundred in the Ranji Trophy is perfect as he prepares for India’s upcoming tour of Australia. India will play a five-match T20I series against Australia starting from October 29 in Canberra. The series will include matches in Melbourne, Hobart, Gold Coast, and the final match at the Gabba.
Rinku Singh will miss Uttar Pradesh’s next Ranji Trophy match against Odisha as he flies to Australia to join the Indian team. However, his contribution in this match has already made a big impact, helping Uttar Pradesh secure three points by taking the first-innings lead.
As Rinku Singh prepares for the Australia tour, this knock will give him tremendous confidence. Whether he gets chances in longer formats for India or continues to shine in T20 cricket, Rinku Singh has proven that he belongs among the elite batsmen in Indian cricket. His first-class average of 57.39 puts him in the company of greats like Sachin Tendulkar, and at just 27 years old, he has many more years of cricket ahead of him.
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