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Rinku Singh’s unbeaten 165 helps Uttar Pradesh draw against Andhra in Ranji Trophy, bagging a first-innings lead.
Rinku Singh scored a brilliant 165 against Andhra Pradesh (Picture credit: AFP)
Star India batter Rinku Singh played an unbeaten 165-run innings for Uttar Pradesh against Andhra in the opening round of the Ranji Trophy, helping his team salvage a draw and manage a slender one-run first-innings lead, thanks to which they have three points compared to Andhra’s one.
The game ended in a draw, but Rinku’s knock shone for its discipline and grit. Coming in at No. 5 with his side in trouble, he steadied the ship with brilliant patience. Uttar Pradesh had been reduced to 178/5 after losing four wickets for just 34 runs in reply to Andhra’s imposing first-innings total of 470.
From there, Rinku spearheaded the recovery with a knock marked by resilience and responsibility. Facing 273 deliveries, he absorbed relentless pressure from Andhra’s bowlers, keeping Uttar Pradesh in the contest.
Rinku’s approach showed his evolving maturity as a red-ball batter, marking a clear progression from his earlier reputation as a T20 finisher.
Alongside Vipraj Nigam, who contributed a vital 42, Rinku forged a crucial 122-run seventh-wicket stand that rescued Uttar Pradesh from a precarious position.
The partnership not only stabilised the innings but propelled the side past 450 as well, bagging a first-innings lead before the game ended in a draw.
With his performance in the opening round of the Ranji Trophy, Rinku went past former India head coach Rahul Dravid, Saba Karim and Yashasvi Jaiswal in India’s all-time highest first-class averages (minimum 50 innings).
Rinku’s hundred pushed his first-class tally past 3,500 runs as well, sustaining a brilliant average above 57.39.
How did the match progress?
Opting to bat first, Andhra posted a whopping 470 runs, riding on centuries from wicketkeeper Srikar Bharat and Shaik Rasheed. In reply, UP posted 471, with Madhav Kaushik and wicketkeeper Aryan Juyal scoring fifties, besides contributions from Rinku and Vipraj.
The latter also picked four wickets in Andhra’s innings, dismissing Abhishek Reddy for 36, Karan Shinde, Ashwin Hebbar and KV Sasikanth.
October 18, 2025, 19:32 IST
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