Cricketer Rinku Singh on Shah Rukh Khan’s Support: ‘First Time I Sat in a Charter Flight’

Indian cricketer Rinku Singh recently received a touching message from Shah Rukh Khan, co-owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), after he was only selected as a reserve for Team India's 2024 T20 World Cup roster. Under Rohit Sharma's leadership, the Men in Blue won the major event, but Rinku was only able to observe the festivities from the sidelines because he was unable to join the main team.

Rinku disclosed that he was requested to accompany the Bollywood actor and had to travel to Mumbai for visa procedures. The left-handed hitter, however, initially hesitated and even attempted to turn down the offer due to shyness. However, the King Shah Rukh Khan soon gained the trust of the Aligarh-born, and he consented to serve in the chartered carrier. Rinku claimed that the KKR co-owner greatly uplifted and supported him during the trip.

Rinku Singh and Shah Rukh Khan's Special Bond:

Talking to RevSportz, he revealed, "So this was the time when I wasn’t selected in the main squad — I was in the standby list. The team had already left, and I had to go for visa formalities. Sir (referring to Shah Rukh Khan) also had to leave the next day. My flight had already been booked, and I was about to leave — alone. Somehow, either Sir or Pooja ma’am found out, and they said I should travel with Sir. I was completely nervous — like, “I’m going to travel alone with Sir? How will I handle myself? What will I say? tried so many times to refuse.”

He further added, “But once Sir had said it, how could I say no? Yes, there was a conversation in the car. He was giving me a lot of encouragement. That season also wasn’t going too well for me. So he was explaining things to me, giving me support. So he was motivating me a lot. And for the first time, I sat in a charter flight — and that too, with Sir. Those two hours were really, really amazing for me. What can I even say it was just incredible. So many beautiful things happened,”

The 27-year-old is presently a member of India's roster for the 2025 Asia Cup, where the team captained by Suryakumar Yadav will play the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on September 10. With the 2026 T20 World Cup approaching and India as the reigning champions, he will want to establish himself and solidify his place in the squad.

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