(Getty Images)
Fresh from clinching the IPL 2024 championship last Sunday, the dynamic left-handed batsman Rinku Singh has landed in the USA ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 next month.
While the majority of the Indian squad jetted off to New York on May 25th, two notable absentees were observed. One of them being Rinku Singh, the sole Indian player from India’s T20 WC roster who featured prominently in the IPL final. The other absentee was none other than Virat Kohli, the top-scoring batter of the 2024 IPL, who opted for a brief hiatus following the tournament.
Rinku Singh has already made his presence felt in the USA, sharing a snapshot alongside Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav. However, the status of Virat Kohli remains uncertain. Although he is set to miss India’s solitary warm-up match against Bangladesh on June 1, speculation abounds regarding his imminent arrival in New York.
The selectors made a wise decision by opting not to include Rinku Singh in the squad.
The Indian cricketing community was surprised when Rinku Singh was left out of the primary squad under the leadership of Ajit Agarkar, who heads the Men’s selection committee. Rinku is among the four players designated as reserves, poised to step in for the Indian team in case of injuries during the tournament.
The decision to exclude Rinku Singh from the main 15-man squad sparked controversy on social media, with many fans urging the BCCI to reconsider. However, it was clear that such a reversal was unlikely. It’s important for fans to recognize that the selection committee has valid reasons for their decisions, irrespective of a player’s past performances.
The selectors couldn’t have simply included Rinku Singh based solely on his impressive display of hitting five consecutive sixes against an inexperienced bowler like Yash Dayal. It’s worth noting that such feats are context-dependent, and the conditions in Ahmedabad were favorable for batting. ICC World Cups present a different level of competition, where performance under pressure is paramount.
For instance, the exclusion of Rishabh Pant, despite his heroic performance in the Gabba Test, highlights the selectors’ focus on consistency and adaptability for global tournaments. Rinku Singh didn’t fit this criterion.
The selectors’ decision was vindicated later in the season when Rinku Singh’s performances failed to impress, yielding only 168 runs from 11 innings at a strike rate of 148.67, despite his team’s title victory. While some may argue that he didn’t receive enough opportunities to bat, the underlying reality remains: he didn’t merit a place in the T20 World Cup squad.
India’s T20 World Cup Fixtures
June 5, Wednesday Ireland New York
June 9, Sunday Pakistan New York
June 12, Wednesday United States of America New York
June 15, Saturday Canada Florida
