'The entire nation hopes they play' - Rinku Singh wants Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma at 2027 ODI World Cup

Rinku Singh has expressed his hope that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be part of India's squad for the 2027 ODI World Cup and help the team secure the trophy. The young batter, who has established himself in India's T20 setup, believes the presence of the two senior players would strengthen the team's chances at the global tournament.

India last won the ODI World Cup in 2011 under MS Dhoni's captaincy on home soil, and the nation has been seeking to reclaim that title since then. Rinku has played two ODIs and 48 T20Is for India and was part of India's successful 2026 T20 World Cup campaign held on home soil earlier this year.

"It would be a huge moment for the whole country, as who knows, it could be their last World Cup. So, it would be huge if they can win it for India. It would be huge for them as well because we haven't won the World Cup in a long time. We last won it in 2011. So, we hope both of them are with the team and that they lift that trophy," Rinku told JioStar.

Breaking the single-format tag

While he gained instant global fame after hitting five consecutive sixes in an over during an IPL 2023 match for Kolkata Knight Riders against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad, Rinku's primary career goal extends beyond individual performances. He wants to break the perception of being a single-format player and establish himself across all formats for India.

"Right now, people know me for hitting those five sixes in one over. What's on my mind right now is that I want to win the World Cup for Team India, being part of the team, contributing with the bat and helping India win the World Cup. I want people to know me more for that, rather than just the five sixes," said Rinku.

"There's a bit of that perception that I'm just a one-format player. But you can look at my average in domestic cricket, whether it's in one-dayers or four-day matches. I have a dream of playing Test cricket for India as well. So, people shouldn't view me as a single-format player. I can play all three formats, and I do play all three formats in domestic cricket. But for India, I play only one format at the moment," he added.

Leadership growth and humble roots

Rinku has demonstrated leadership qualities at domestic level and in franchise cricket. He was captain in the UP League, where he became a champion with his team, and served as vice-captain in the IPL last season.

"I'm still growing as far as captaincy is concerned. I was captain in the UP League, and I became a champion with my team. Last season, I was the vice-captain in the IPL. So, I'm learning the ropes of captaincy, a bit from Ajju bhai (Ajinkya Rahane) at KKR and from many others. I played a lot with Surya bhai, so I kept observing him in the Indian team for two years and watching how he leads. I'm working on my leadership skills, and hopefully, something good is in store for me in captaincy," said Rinku.

Reflecting on his journey from humble origins to the national team, Rinku emphasised the importance of remembering where he came from. He noted that his success has been shaped by his past and his faith.

"When I look back at where I began, I didn't have much, and now I've reached here. That keeps running through my mind, the fact that there was a time when I had nothing, no money. Whenever I do something good, I think back to where I was and how far I have come from there. It's all God's blessing. So, I keep looking back at how far I have come," Rinku concluded.