3 Yusuf Pathan records Rinku Singh can break with KKR in IPL

It was again Rinku Singh who was at the center of attraction in IPL 2023. In the 53rd match of the ongoing season, he flicked Arshdeep Singh's full toss to deep backward square region for a boundary, giving KKR a memorable victory.

Rinku has been doing for KKR what he is known to do for his domestic side, UP: saving them every time they are in trouble.

He has been nothing less than a 'troubleshooter' for the Kolkata-based franchise. The 25-year-old has been playing impactful innings for his side on a consistent basis this season.

With Andre Russell not being able to replicate the performances he used to do 2-3 years ago, KKR was in dire need of a player who could smack boundaries at will.

Rinku Singh, with a 3.35-balls-per-boundary ratio and a 29.8 dot ball percentage, is, presently, among the best boundary hitters, along with Jitesh Sharma and Dhruv Jurel, to name a few.

It was inevitable for him to get compared with former KKR finisher Yusuf Pathan. The former KKR and India player was known for his bit-hitting prowess and often gave his team the boost needed in the final overs.

So, with Rinku emerging as the possible successor to Yusuf, let's take a look at some of the latter's IPL records that the former can break.

#3 Most half-centuries in less than 25 balls

AB de Villiers is atop this list [File Photo]

Yusuf Pathan had four IPL fifties which came in less than 25 deliveries. He is, along with KL Rahul and Chris Gayle, in the third position on the list.

AB de Villiers and Virender Sehwag, with six fifties, top the list of batsmen with an IPL fifty made in less than 25 balls.

Rinku Singh has all the potential to surpass Yusuf Pathan with his boundary-hitting abilities, if not top the list.

#2 Highest strike rate for a 50+ score in the IPL

Yusuf Pathan's match-winning innings of 72 off just 22 deliveries (SR of 327.27) against Sunrisers Hyderabad put him third on the list of the highest strike-rate in an innings of 50+ score. Ahead of him are Pat Cummins, 56* (15) against MI (SR: 373.33, 2022); and Suresh Raina, 87 (25) vs. PBKS, (SR: 348.00, 2014).

Rinku Singh, who smoked Yash Dayal for five consecutive sixes in the last over of a match, certainly has the ability to reach such dizzying strike-rates. It should come as no surprise if he does indeed gets ahead of not just Yusuf, but also the other two on this list.

#1 Most runs in an IPL season at a 170+ strike rate

Yusuf Pathan announced his arrival in the IPL with a bang when playing for the Rajasthan Royals. He scored 435 runs, that too with a fabulous SR of 179.01. Mind you, he was batting at 5/6 mostly and got to face only 10–12 deliveries per match on average.

Same goes with Rinku Singh, who has already scored 337 runs at an SR of 151.07 in this season where he has been batting at 5/6 and even at 7 occasionally.

With age on his side, Rinku has a chance to break the record set by Yusuf Pathan, who is just behind Rishabh Pant. The keeper-batsman amassed 684 runs at an SR of 173.60 in IPL 2018.