'Couldn't fully capitalize on the chances he got' - Irfan Pathan on KKR star ahead of IPL 2026

Irfan Pathan expressed his concerns over Rinku Singh's form ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The diminutive cricketer is expected to play a key role for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as they look to bounce back from their forgettable campaign in 2025.

Pathan recalled how Rinku took the cricket fraternity by storm during IPL 2023, scoring 474 runs from 14 matches at an average of 59.25 and a strike rate of 149.53. However, in the last two seasons, the Uttar Pradesh captain has scored just 374 runs across 28 matches. The former India all-rounder also pointed out Rinku's dismal performance in the recently concluded T20 World Cup, where he managed just 24 runs in five innings.

“We will have to see how much opportunity he gets to play. His 2023 season was outstanding. He scored 400-450 runs with a strike rate of 150. But after that, his performance dipped, and many times he didn’t get enough opportunities. He will have to maintain his standard and maximize the opportunities he gets. Even in the World Cup, he played five matches, but he couldn’t fully capitalize on the chances he got. This is another problem that Kolkata needs to rectify, and Rinku Singh is one of them,” Pathan said on his YouTube channel.

KKR are set to begin their campaign in IPL 2026 on Sunday, March 29, when they face the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium. Ahead of the impending season, KKR have had three training sessions at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

On Friday, they played an intra-squad game, with Ajinkya Rahane and Rinku Singh captaining Purple Knights and Golden Knights, respectively. The Golden Knights posted 199/8 in their 20 overs, with Rinku smashing 40 off just 25 balls. However, the Purple Knights chased the target in 19.2 overs, with four wickets to spare. Angkrish Raghuvanshi was the star of the show, as he amassed an unbeaten 103 off 55 balls to take his team to victory.