Former India batter Suresh Raina, popularly known as Mr. IPL, has backed Rinku Singh to become the next captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League. Raina’s comments came after Rinku successfully led Meerut Mavericks to the UPT20 League title, strengthening his case for a bigger leadership role in the IPL.
Rinku, who hails from Aligarh, was retained by KKR for Rs 13 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. The left-handed batter has been associated with the franchise since 2018 and has gradually developed into an important member of the KKR setup.
During the 2026 UPT20 League, Rinku captained Meerut Mavericks in 10 matches and guided them to nine victories. His impressive leadership campaign caught Raina’s attention, with the former India star suggesting that KKR may already have their next captain within their ranks.
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Speaking in a video shared by UPT20 on social media, Suresh Raina urged KKR to invest in Rinku’s leadership potential and give him more opportunities to prove himself.
Suresh Raina shares his thoughts on UPT20 Season 4, the talent on display and the excitement of the grand final.
Watch UPT20 Season 4 live on JioHotstar, StarSports 2 Hindi HD, StarSports 2 Hindi & StarSports.#UPT20 #KhiladiYahanBantaHai #IssBaarSeason4 pic.twitter.com/KZ7lkof6yr
— UP T20 League (@t20uttarpradesh) September 6, 2026
“Kaabil-e-tareef kaptaani Rinku Singh ki. 4th season hai aur 4th final mei khel rahe hai. KKR kaptaani badi dhund rahi hai lekin mujhe lagta hai ki kaptaan mil gaya hai KKR ko, thoda nivesh kariye Rinku Singh par, thode se matches dijiye, you never know,” Suresh Raina said.
Rinku was part of India’s 2026 T20 World Cup-winning team and was appointed KKR’s vice-captain ahead of IPL 2026. He featured in all 14 league matches for the three-time IPL champions.
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Following Ajinkya Rahane’s retirement from all forms of cricket in July, KKR are searching for a new captain. Rinku could emerge as a strong internal option, given his recent leadership experience. However, the franchise will ultimately decide whether to hand Rinku the captaincy for IPL 2027 or look elsewhere for Rahane’s successor.
