When CM Yogi Adityanath stood at the podium inside Lok Bhavan in Lucknow on March 24 to hand out appointment letters to six international medal-winning athletes from Uttar Pradesh, one of the most celebrated names on the list was missing. Rinku Singh — the KKR star whose five sixes in one over made him a household name across India — was at his IPL pre-season camp and could not attend the ceremony.
Rather than let the moment pass without acknowledgment, Rinku released a video from camp the following day. The clip went viral immediately. In it, he thanked the UP government and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for the appointment and the ₹3 crore cash reward that accompanied it, expressed his regret at being unable to attend, and promised to travel to Lucknow to collect his joining letter and receive the CM’s blessings in person as soon as his schedule permits.
Key Facts
- 📜 Rinku Singh has been formally appointed as Regional Sports Officer (RSO) — a Class-2 gazetted government position — by the Uttar Pradesh government under the state’s sports quota rule.
- 💰 Alongside the RSO appointment, the UP government announced a ₹3 crore cash reward for Rinku’s contribution to India’s T20 World Cup 2026 triumph.
- 🏏 CM Yogi Adityanath mentioned Rinku’s absence at the ceremony, noting he was busy with his IPL commitments with KKR but would receive his joining letter separately.
- 📱 Rinku released a heartfelt video from KKR’s pre-season camp, expressing gratitude to the UP government and promising to visit Lucknow soon to collect the letter in person.
- 🤝 KKR have also appointed Rinku as vice-captain for IPL 2026 — meaning he enters the season with two new official responsibilities simultaneously: a government post and a franchise leadership role.
- 📊 The RSO salary is ₹56,100 to ₹65,000 as basic pay under the 7th Pay Commission. Including DA and HRA, the total monthly take-home is estimated at ₹70,000 to ₹80,000.
What Rinku Said in the Viral Video
CM Yogi’s Words at the Ceremony
At the Lok Bhavan ceremony, CM Yogi Adityanath addressed the assembled athletes and dignitaries and specifically referenced Rinku’s absence in terms that were generous rather than critical. He noted that Rinku was already at his IPL camp, where many other players had also gathered ahead of the season opener on March 28, and that the joining letter would be delivered to him appropriately. He reaffirmed UP’s position as the first state in India to prioritise athletes for government service — noting that over 500 athletes had already received appointment letters for various government positions under the state’s sports quota initiative.
Rinku Singh missed the ceremony. He did not miss the moment. His video from KKR camp — grateful, humble, and full of the warmth that his fans have come to associate with him — may have landed better than any formal appearance at Lok Bhavan could have. KKR’s season starts March 29. Rinku will be at the Wankhede in a KKR jersey. His joining letter will wait. The government job will be there after IPL. Some priorities write themselves.
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