Ayman: wrote initial bio v1

2026-07-07T08:48:14Z

wrote initial bio v1

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{{Short description|Indian cricketer (born 2002)}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Kunal Singh Rathore
| image =
| caption = Kunal Singh Rathore with [[Virat Kohli]]
| country = India
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2002|10|9|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Kota, [[Rajasthan]], India
| batting = Left-handed
| role = [[Wicket-keeper-batter]]

| club1 = [[Rajasthan cricket team|Rajasthan]]
| year1 = 2022–present
| club2 = [[Rajasthan Royals]]
| year2 = 2023–present

| columns = 3
| hidedeliveries = true
| column1 = [[First-class cricket|FC]]
| matches1 = 15
| runs1 = 580
| bat avg1 = 30.52
| 100s/50s1 = 1/2
| top score1 = 156
| catches/stumpings1= 49/–

| column2 = [[List A cricket|LA]]
| matches2 = 16
| runs2 = 404
| bat avg2 = 36.72
| 100s/50s2 = 0/3
| top score2 = 79
| catches/stumpings2= 28/–

| column3 = [[Twenty20|T20]]
| matches3 = 13
| runs3 = 254
| bat avg3 = 31.75
| 100s/50s3 = 0/1
| top score3 = 61[[not out|*]]
| catches/stumpings3= 8/–

| source = https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/kunal-singh-rathore-1339031 ESPNcricinfo
| date = 5 August
| year = 2025
}}

'''Kunal Singh Rathore''' (born 9 October 2002) is an Indian [[cricket]]er who plays as a left-handed [[wicketkeeper-batsman]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cricketer Kunal Singh Rathore Age, Date of Birth, Profile, Cricket Career Records, Stats at Cricketnmore |url=https://www.cricketnmore.com/player-profiles/1339031/kunal-singh-rathore |access-date=2025-08-05 |website=Cricketnmore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kunal Singh Rathore IPL Career Profile & Stats {{!}} RR 2025 |url=https://www.rajasthanroyals.com/rr-players/kunal-singh-rathore-ipl-profile-88492 |access-date=2025-08-05 |website=Rajasthan Royals |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Paul |first=Koushik |date=2025-05-04 |title=Who is Kunal Singh Rathore? Rajasthan Royals' Kota-born latest IPL debutant during KKR vs RR clash |url=https://www.livemint.com/sports/cricket-news/who-is-kunal-singh-rathore-rajasthan-royals-kota-born-latest-ipl-debutant-during-kkr-vs-rr-clash-11746355120689.html |access-date=2025-08-05 |website=mint |language=en}}</ref> He is from [[Kota, Rajasthan]], he is notably the first player from his hometown to earn a contract in the [[Indian Premier League|Indian Premier League (IPL).]]<ref name=":1" /> Rathore represents [[Rajasthan cricket team|Rajasthan]] in domestic cricket and is a member of the [[Rajasthan Royals]] squad in the IPL.<ref>https://www.iplt20.com/players/kunal-rathore/5763</ref>

== Early life ==
Kunal Singh Rathore was born on 9 October 2002 in Kota, [[Rajasthan]], India.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-04 |title=Who Is Kunal Singh Rathore? A Brad Haddin Fan Making His Debut For RR {{!}} Indian Premier League, 2025 |url=https://www.cricket.com/news/who-is-kunal-singh-rathore-a-brad-haddin-fan-making-his-debut-for-rr-kolkata-knight-riders-vs-rajasthan-royals-match-scorecard-rr-vs-kkr-knight-riders-vs-royals-kolkata-knight-riders-vs-rajasthan-royals-players-kolkata-knight-riders-vs-rajasthan-royals-kkr-vs-rr-toss-kkr-rr-kkr-vs-rr-2024-542025-1746352859324 |access-date=2025-08-05 |website=www.cricket.com |language=en}}</ref> Initially aspiring to become a fast bowler, inspired by [[S. Sreesanth]], he later transitioned to wicketkeeping in order to gain more batting opportunities. He has cited [[Brad Haddin]] and [[Quinton de Kock]] as key influences on his development as a wicketkeeper-batter.

== Domestic career ==
Rathore made his professional debut for Rajasthan in all three formats First-class, List A, and T20 during the 2022 season. In the 2022–23 [[Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy]], he scored 147 runs across seven matches at an average of 36.75 and a strike rate of 128.94.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kunal Singh Rathore - Kunal Singh Rathore Career Info, Achievements, ICC Ranking along with Records & Stats {{!}} Crcikit by HT |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/players/player-name |access-date=2025-08-05 |work=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref>

In the 2023–24 [[Ranji Trophy]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-02-02 |title=I'm lucky that things have quickly fallen in place for me: Kunal |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/im-lucky-that-things-have-quickly-fallen-in-place-for-me-kunal/articleshow/107344479.cms |access-date=2025-08-05 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> Rathore scored 245 runs in six matches at an average of 40.83.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bhattacharyya |first=Debayan |date=2025-05-04 |title=KKR vs RR IPL 2025: Who Is Kunal Singh Rathore? Kota Wicket-Keeper Making His IPL Debut |url=https://www.mykhel.com/cricket/kkr-vs-rr-ipl-2025-who-is-kunal-singh-rathore-kota-wicket-keeper-making-his-ipl-debut-359671.html |access-date=2025-08-05 |website=www.mykhel.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kunal Rathore {{!}} Cricket Career Stats, Records, ICC Rankings |url=https://www.wisden.com/players/kunal-singh-rathore-88492 |access-date=2025-08-05 |website=Wisden |language=en}}</ref> His standout performance came against Manipur, where he scored 156 off 138 balls. He also made 19 dismissals behind the stumps. In the same season's [[Vijay Hazare Trophy]], he contributed 250 runs and effected 24 dismissals, playing a crucial role in Rajasthan's progression to the final.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-09 |title=Kunal Singh Rathore: From the alleys of Kota to the dressing room of Rajasthan Royals |url=https://www.rajasthanroyals.com/latest-news/kunal-singh-rathore-kota-rajasthan-royals-wicket-keeper-birthday |access-date=2025-08-05 |website=Rajasthan Royals |language=en}}</ref>

== IPL career ==
In the 2023 IPL auction, Rathore was signed by the [[Rajasthan Royals]] for ₹20 lakh, becoming the first cricketer from Kota to secure an IPL contract.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=2025-05-04 |title=Who is Kunal Singh Rathore? Meet Rajasthan Royals' IPL debutant from Kota |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/ipl/top-stories/who-is-kunal-singh-rathore-meet-rajasthan-royals-ipl-debutant-from-kota/articleshow/120870740.cms#:~:text=Rathore%20was%20bought%20by%20Rajasthan,Sanju%20Samson%20and%20Dhruv%20Jurel. |access-date=2025-08-05 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> He was retained for the 2024 season and later re-signed for ₹30 lakh during the 2025 IPL mega auction.<ref name=":0" />

== References ==

{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rathore, Kunal Singh}}
[[Category:India Twenty20 International cricketers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian sportsmen]]
[[Category:Rajasthan Royals cricketers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian cricketers]]
[[Category:2002 births]]

Kunal Singh Rathore - Revision history

Ayman: wrote initial bio v1