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Indian cricket’s explosive hitter Rinku Singh has candidly explained why he was overlooked for the Duleep Trophy 2024, despite the selection of numerous international and fringe players last week.
As India’s domestic season 2024-25 approaches with the Duleep Trophy beginning on September 5, the BCCI announced the tournament squads on August 14, and Rinku’s absence has drawn significant attention.
Rinku Singh Discusses His Exclusion from the Duleep Trophy 2024 and His Domestic Performances
The Duleep Trophy 2024, set to run until September 19, will feature four teams: India A, India B, India C, and India D.
The squads include several prominent names such as Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube, and Shreyas Iyer.
Given the star-studded 60-player roster, Rinku Singh’s omission, despite his prominence in India’s T20I team, has surprised many fans and experts.
The left-handed batter, known for his explosive play, has openly shared his frustration over missing out on the Duleep Trophy 2024. He acknowledged that his recent domestic performances were the primary reason for his exclusion but remains hopeful for future opportunities, especially with the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh in September.
Rinku Singh was quoted as saying by Sportstak: “I didn’t perform that well (in the domestic season). I didn’t play many matches in the Ranji Trophy…I played 2-3 matches. I wasn’t selected because I didn’t do well enough in those games. Hopefully, my name might be there for next-round matches.”
Rinku made his international debut last year and swiftly became a crucial part of India’s T20I middle order following a stellar IPL 2023 season with KKR. He was on the verge of making the India squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup but was ultimately named a reserve player.
Despite his T20 success, Rinku’s first-class career has recently lagged. Last season, he played only three Ranji Trophy matches, amassing 128 runs at an average of 42.66 with one half-century. Nonetheless, he boasts a strong record in first-class cricket.
Rinku has competed in 47 first-class matches, accumulating 3,173 runs with 20 half-centuries and seven centuries, maintaining an impressive average of 71.59.
Responding to concerns about being seen as a T20 specialist despite his solid performances in other formats, Rinku emphasized that he’s content with his current role and opportunities.
He acknowledged that securing a spot in ODI and Test cricket would be a major accomplishment, but remains focused on making the most of the chances currently available to him.
Rinku signed off by saying, “No worries, I am happy with whatever chances I am getting. When I will be selected for ODIs or tests, it will be a huge deal for me. Whatever I am getting to play right now, I am playing.”
