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R P Singh is a former Indian cricketer who played as a left-arm fast-medium bowler. R P Singh made his debut for the national team in 2005 and played an instrumental role in various victories of the Indian cricket team. He retired from all forms of cricket in September 2018. His remarkable performances and achievements have earned him a place among the most promising young cricketers of his time.
R P Singh hails from Rae Bareli district in Uttar Pradesh, India. Growing up, he was introduced to the game by his father and uncle. He showed great potential at an early age and began playing serious cricket when he was only eleven years old.
He represented Uttar Pradesh in the Under-16 zonal tournament and soon progressed to higher levels. In 2004, he was selected for the U-19 World Cup held in Bangladesh where he took eight wickets with an impressive average of 24.75.
Despite this early success, R P Singh struggled initially before making significant breakthroughs later on during his domestic career.
After performing consistently in the Ranji Trophy for Uttar Pradesh, R P Singh made his way into the national team by impressing selectors with his bowling performance in a match against Sri Lanka A team while playing for India A side.
He made his ODI debut against Zimbabwe in September 2005 and immediately made an impact by taking two wickets in his second over. In January 2006, R P Singh made his Test debut against Pakistan where he won the Man of the Match award after taking five wickets.
During India's tour of England in 2007, R P Singh played a crucial role by picking up wickets at key moments that helped India break their 21-year test series drought in England. He was also a part of the Indian team that won the inaugural T20 World Cup in September 2007, where he emerged as the second-highest wicket-taker with 12 wickets in seven matches.
Despite facing criticism for his reduced pace and lack of effectiveness, R P Singh continued to be selected for the national team and played a crucial role in many victories.
R P Singh's career statistics are impressive, with 40 Test wickets, 69 ODI wickets, and 15 T20I wickets to his name. His left-arm swing bowling made him a tough customer for batsmen to face.
R P Singh played for multiple IPL teams, including Deccan Chargers, Kochi Tuskers Kerala, Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore. In his second season playing for Deccan Chargers in the IPL held in South Africa, he finished as the highest wicket-taker with 23 wickets from 16 matches.
A remarkable performance by R P Singh came during India's tour of Australia in 2008. During the Perth test match which is widely regarded as one of the best test matches ever played due to its sheer competitiveness, RP Singh claimed six crucial Australian wickets that helped India win an epic battle against the Aussies.
Rudra Pratap Singh, also known as RP Singh, was a crucial player in India's successful journey to the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007. He emerged as the second-highest wicket-taker of the tournament, picking up 12 wickets at an economy rate of 6.40 in seven matches. His bowling performance was instrumental in India's victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in the final.
RP Singh played a significant role during India's tour of England in 2007, where he helped India clinch the series after 21 years. In this series, he picked up his first five-wicket haul at Lord's and bagged ten wickets overall.
In addition to these significant achievements, RP Singh finished with an impressive record in other major tournaments and series as well. In the 2011 test series against England after a three-year absence from Test cricket, he took six wickets but was criticized for his reduced pace and lack of effectiveness.
In IPL seasons, RP Singh had some match-winning performances for his teams. He was a key player for Deccan Chargers' winning campaign in the second season held in South Africa, emerging as the highest wicket-taker with 23 scalps under his belt. However, after moving to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and having an average domestic season afterwards, RP Singh failed to attract bidders during the IPL auctions in 2014.
RP Singh is best known for his left-arm pace bowling skills. He relied on swing and variation techniques to trouble opposition batsmen throughout his career. As a left-arm bowler who could swing both ways while keeping good control over line and length, he posed a serious threat to right-handed batsmen.
Despite being capable of generating decent speeds on occasion early on, he was never an express pace bowler. Instead, RP Singh's ability to move the ball both ways in the air and off the pitch made him a potent weapon in all formats of the game.
RP Singh's primary role in the team was that of a new-ball bowler, primarily in limited-overs cricket. His contributions to his teams came not only with his wicket-taking ability but also his economical spells. He had a good understanding of when to bowl full or short deliveries depending on pitch conditions and batsmen's weaknesses.
Off the field, RP Singh has been described as humble and quiet. He is known for always maintaining a calm demeanour on the field, regardless of how intense a situation might be.
RP Singh has endorsed brands such as Adidas and Reebok throughout his career. Beyond cricket, RP Singh is known for having a keen interest in football and actively follows European club football leagues.
Known for his left-arm fast-medium swing bowling, R P Singh was a vital member of the Indian cricket team during his time, especially in the shorter formats of the game. His impressive performances in the 2007 T20 World Cup helped India win the tournament, with him emerging as the second-highest wicket-taker with 12 wickets in seven matches.
His impeccable line and length coupled with his ability to move the ball both ways made him a tricky bowler to face. His best performance in Test cricket came at Lord's in 2007 when he picked up a five-wicket haul that ensured India's victory over England after 21 years at that venue.
R P Singh has been honoured with several awards throughout his career. He played an integral role in India's T20 World Cup victory and was awarded the Arjuna Award by the Government of India in 2009 for his contribution to Indian cricket.
R P Singh will be remembered as one of India's most versatile and reliable left-arm swing bowlers who contributed significantly to Indian cricket during his career. While injuries hampered his progress towards the latter half of his career, there is no doubt that he will forever remain a legend.
FAQs
When did R P Singh retire from cricket?
R P Singh announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in September 2018.
What teams did R P Singh play for?
R P Singh played for Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Deccan Chargers, Kochi Tuskers Kerala, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Rising Pune Supergiants.
What awards did R P Singh receive during his career?
R P Singh was awarded the Arjuna Award by the Government of India in 2009 for his contribution to Indian cricket.
Did RP Singh captain any teams during his career?
No, RP Singh didn't become captain of any team during his career.
Was RP Singh ever selected to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL)?
Yes, RP Singh played multiple seasons of IPL with different franchises such as Deccan Chargers, Kochi Tuskers Kerala, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rising Pune Supergiants.
