Rinku Singh Rediscovers Touch as KKR Back Consistency and Confidence

Kolkata Knight Riders head coach Abhishek Nayar has revealed how extensive behind-the-scenes work helped Rinku Singh regain form after a difficult start to IPL 2026.

After managing scores of 4, 1 and 6 in three of his first five innings, Rinku has bounced back strongly, scoring 207 runs across his last four innings without being dismissed while striking at 172. His latest contribution came in KKR’s clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where he smashed an unbeaten 49 off 29 balls to power KKR to 192 on a batting-friendly Raipur surface.

Speaking after the match, Nayar said the team focused heavily on centre-wicket practice sessions to restore confidence among players who had struggled early in the tournament.

“One of the things we tried when we were not doing so well was a lot of centre-wicket practice to bring the confidence back,” Nayar explained. “Same with Varun Chakravarthy and Rinku because they were two really important players for us and didn’t start the tournament well.”

Nayar also disclosed that KKR introduced a technical tweak to Rinku’s batting setup that has helped revive his finishing role. According to the coach, Rinku now uses a trigger movement where he walks across slightly before delivery — a change from his earlier stance.

“If you noticed, his initial movement changed; he’s now walking across compared to before,” Nayar said. “We figured that might help him. He had never done that before, so we added it to his batting and it worked.”

Beyond technical adjustments, KKR focused equally on rebuilding the left-hander’s belief and mental clarity.

“Getting his mind back into the belief systems that he can clear the boundary and hit those fours and sixes was important,” Nayar said. “A lot of groundwork went into that.”

Rinku’s resurgence has coincided with KKR’s improved performances. The side has won four of its last five matches and remains in the playoff race despite its defeat to RCB. KKR currently sit eighth on the IPL table with nine points from 11 games and must win their remaining three matches — all at home — to stay in contention.

Nayar credited the team environment and consistency in approach for the turnaround.

“One thing we decided collectively was to stay very consistent in our processes,” he said. “In the IPL, with all the outside noise and pressure, maintaining the right environment is one of the hardest things.”

The coach also highlighted the emotional challenges players face during prolonged poor form, especially amid constant social media scrutiny.

“It’s really hard for an individual to not have a good game and come back,” Nayar said. “The amount of messages they get, even from close friends and family, isn’t easy. We wanted to create an environment where players felt safe and free to play regardless of outcomes.”

That philosophy, he explained, is why KKR resisted making sweeping changes to the playing XI during their difficult phase. The franchise continued to back players like Rovman Powell despite inconsistent returns, while highly rated pacer Matheesha Pathirana remained on the bench.

Nayar said patience and trust in players were central to KKR’s approach.

“Everyone in the IPL wants to win and perform,” he said. “But sometimes things don’t go your way and you need to accept that. We stayed consistent with preparation, open nets, centre-wicket practice, and backing the players we trusted.”

Looking ahead, KKR are hopeful Chakravarthy will return for the next match after recovering from a toe fracture. Nayar stressed the importance of the spin combination featuring Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine as KKR prepare for a crucial run at Eden Gardens.

“We’re excited to go back home,” Nayar said. “When Varun returns, we’ll have our strong bowling unit back together and look to use home conditions to our advantage.”