NEW DELHI: Rinku Singh enjoyed a double bonanza on Tuesday. First, he was handed the vice-captaincy of the Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of the IPL 2026 season, and then he was appointed as a Regional Sports Officer by the Uttar Pradesh Government. He was handed the appointment letter for the post by UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.Rinku has been a key performer for KKR, thanks to his explosive batting and stupendous fielding. He was also part of the victorious India team that won the 2026 T20 World Cup. India defeated New Zealand national cricket team in the title clash in Ahmedabad to lift their third T20 World Cup title, having previously won it in 2007 and 2024.
Praising Rinku, CM Yogi said: “UP is the first state in the country to give athletes priority in government service. So far, we have provided appointment letters to over 500 athletes for various police positions… For his performance in cricket and the Asian Games, Rinku Singh has been given an appointment letter as a Regional Sports Officer. He is already a part of a camp (KKR camp in the IPL), so he has gone there. Many other players have also got appointment letters here today.”Apart from Rinku, the Uttar Pradesh government is set to give employment to six international medallists, including hockey player Rajkumar Pal, javelin thrower Ajit Singh, sprinter Simran, and Paralympic gold medallist Praveen Kumar.Rinku, who is known to turn the game on its head, bat in any situation or conditions, and whack bowlers out of the park as a finisher, will now also be sitting in an office and shaping the future of sports and players in Uttar Pradesh.
What is the Regional Sports Officer post Rinku Singh will be holding?
A Regional Sports Officer (RSO) is a Class-2 gazetted officer. He is responsible for promoting sports activities, overseeing sports stadiums, and nurturing new talent.
What will be Rinku Singh’s salary as a Regional Sports Officer?
The salary of Rinku as a Regional Sports Officer (RSO) may be between Rs 70,000 and Rs 80,000.Rinku became a star overnight after he smashed Yash Dayal of the Gujarat Titans for five successive sixes in the final over during IPL 2023 to help KKR seal a thrilling win.Since then, he has not looked back.He has been part of the Indian team that won the Asian Games gold medal, the Asia Cup, and most recently, the T20 World Cup.
