Rinku Singh was one of the most notable omissions from the Indian cricket team’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad.
The hard-hitting left-hander was considered to be one of the prime contenders to be included as a finisher in India’s 15-member T20 World Cup squad.
However, Rinku Singh was axed from India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad that was announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday, April 30.
While the 26-year-old southpaw has not been included in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad, he has been named as one of the four travelling reserves for the upcoming marquee T20 tournament.
In the previous edition of the Indian T20 League in 2023, Rinku Singh became an household name after he clobbered five sixes in the final over against Team Bengaluru’s left-arm pacer Yash Dayal to help Team Kolkata chase down 29 runs - the highest-ever chase in the 20th over in the Indian T20 League’s history.
Rinku finished as Kolkata’s leading run-scorer last season, having amassed 474 runs in 14 matches at an impressive average of 59.25 and a strike rate of 149.52.
Following a successful Indian T20 League campaign, the Aligarh-born cricketer later made his international debut in the first T20 international against Ireland at The Village in August 2023.
Since then, Rinku cemented his place in the India’s T20I squad by playing a few memorable knocks under pressure.
Batting mostly in the lower middle-order, Rinku has scored 356 runs in 15 T20Is at a brilliant strike rate of 176.23 while also maintaining an average of 89.
With such impressive numbers in his short career, then the burning question is why is Rinku Singh not in India's T20 World Cup 2024 squad?
Why is Rinku Singh not in India's T20 World Cup 2024 squad
Rinku Singh can consider himself extremely unlucky to get dropped from India’s 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup 2024.
In the ongoing edition of the Indian T20 League, Rinku has had limited opportunities for Kolkata due to the success of their openers - Phil Salt (392 runs) and Sunil Narine (372 runs) - at the top of the order.
Kolkata’s two openers have been in scintillating form which has resulted in their impressive form this season so far.
As a result, Rinku has scored just 123 runs in nine games at a strike rate of 150.
On the other hand, Shivam Dube’s outstanding form for Chennai in the ongoing Indian T20 League dented Rinku’s chances.
Dube has already accumulated 350 runs in nine matches this season at an average of 58.33 and a strike rate of 172.41. He has hammered 24 fours and 26 sixes in Indian T20 League 2024.
With Dube considered to be a good bet against spin, the southpaw has been included for the upcoming T20 World Cup to be played on similar conditions like Chepauk in the West Indies and the United States.
Additionally, Dube can contribute his handy medium pace as well and can also be a very like-for-like replacement for vice-captain Hardik Pandya.
With Hardik’s fitness concerns, the selection committee opted for Dube in place of Rinku.
Meanwhile, India has added four spinners and three pacers in their 15-member squad.
As each participating team will get a chance to change players in their initial squad till May 25, India can still include Rinku in their primary squad in place of a spinner depending on Rinku’s form and team’s requirement.
Should Rinku Singh manage a strong finish to the 2024 Indian T20 League season, there’s no reason why he can’t be roped into the squad as a replacement for one of India’s spinners.
India’s squad for T20 World Cup 2024: Rohit Sharma (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya (vice-captain), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Shubman Gill (travelling reserve), Rinku Singh (travelling reserve), Khaleel Ahmed (travelling reserve), Avesh Khan (travelling reserve)
Photo credit: Alamy
