Former Indian batter Suresh Raina has urged Kolkata Knight Riders to promote Rinku Singh to number four in the upcoming Indian Premier League. Singh scored 206 runs in 11 in IPL 2025 at an average of 29.43 and a strike rate of 153.73.

The left-hander batted down the order in the previous season and didn’t get to face a lot of deliveries. Overall, Singh faced 134 balls in the last edition of the tournament.

Singh has the experience under his belt and he would look to deliver the goods for the franchise.

Suresh Raina said on Star Sports, “Last season, their net run rate was not that good. Ajinkya Rahane batted well, but the middle order did not click. The three Rs – Russell, Ramandeep and Rinku, they were all coming in at 7,8,9. Rinku will have to bat higher. He can come in at No. 4 because he is not a slogger. He is a proper batsman. He has won matches for them, so he can play the long innings. [Ankrish] Raghuvanshi is in good form.”

On the other hand, former Indian all-rounder Sanjay Bangar said Sunil Narine should bat at the top of the order for KKR. Narine had scored 246 runs in 12 matches of IPL 2025 at an average of 22.32 and a strike rate of 170.83.

Bangar said, “No matter how much you evaluate, Sunil Narine will have to bat at the top will Rahane. You can bat Cameron Green at No. 3. So in this way, they can manage the top order. Then in the lower order, you have Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell and Ramandeep.”

Kolkata Knight Riders will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on 29th March.