Why wasn't Rinku Singh picked in India's T20 World Cup squad? Insider reports and experts' reaction

Rinku Singh’s absence from India’s squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup has been the biggest talking point since BCCI’s chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar, on Tuesday announced the 15 names who will be part of the main squad for the ICC event in the West Indies and the USA.

Making his India debut just last August, Rinku has been a revelation in international T20Is, scoring 356 runs in 11 innings at an average of 89 and a strike rate of 176.23. His numbers become even more special when you add the fact that he played as a finisher at the No.6 spot. Despite his shining record, Rinku, who once hit five successive sixes on the last five balls in an IPL game to win a match for Kolkata Knight Riders in 2023, was not selected for the squad.

Read: Rinku brutally axed as selectors opt for experience and IPL form

Multiple reports have emerged since Rinku’s baffling exclusion.

A BCCI source told news agency PTI that the left-hander was “unlucky” with the decision as there was no space left in the squad after the inclusion of Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya.

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“Rinku was just unlucky. It was a toss-up between (Dube and Rinku with Hardik also in the squad),” a BCCI source said.

While all-rounder Hardik remains irreplaceable with his ability to bowl medium pace, Dube pipped Rinku with his current form, having scored 350 runs in nine matches for Chennai Super Kings in the ongoing IPL 2024 at a strike rate of 172.41. Dube has also played multiple match-winning knocks in IPL 2024.

Rinku on the other hand has only collected 123 runs in eight innings at a strike rate of 150.

Rinku paid the price for the Impact Player rule?

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In a separate report, PTI reported that the Impact Player Rule currently in force in IPL 2024 went against Rinku. With KKR having the option to add an extra batter to their lineup with the Impact Player Rule, Rinku never got an opportunity to play in the top 5 slots. He has only faced 82 balls so far in the IPL and has been required to do very little at the end.

“No doubt, Rinku paid the price for the Impact Player Rule. He is plain and simple unlucky. Hardik might be in poor form but he is still India’s best seam bowling all-rounder and it would have been a risk dropping him considering he is the only one who has bowled,” a BCCI source told PTI.

Rinku lost to Axar Patel?

Another report in Indian Express has indicated that Rinku was involved in a three-way battle with Axar Patel and Washington Sundar during the selection meeting, but Axar eventually won as he is an all-rounder.

Rinku Singh in T20is for India:

38 (21), 37* (15), 22* (14), 31* (9), 46 (29), 6 (8), 68* (39), 14 (10), 16* (9), 9* (9), 69* (39).

- The heroics of this gunman have been forgotten. 🥲💔 pic.twitter.com/28S8BKWSvL

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 30, 2024

Experts’ reaction

Rinku received much support from experts who expressed surprise at the finisher’s exclusion from the squad.

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan said selectors should not have ignored Rinku.

“Rinku’s recent past performance for Team India shouldn’t have been ignored,” he posted on X.

Former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer said that Rinku lost the battle against Dube.

“Shivam Dube outplayed Rinku Singh in this IPL and forced his way into the team,” Jaffer said while speaking to ESPNCricinfo.

West Indian legend Ian Bishop said Rinku deserved a spot based on his international record.

“So, if you’re talking about surprises, I think Rinku Singh has done enough in international cricket. He averages well over 60 or 70 in T20Is to hold a place in the 15,” he said on Star Sports. “So, that’s the only thing that had my ears sticking up. So I’m only saying that the extra spinner, someone like Axar (Patel), has been preferred to Rinku."

India legend Sunil Gavaskar said that Rinku’s current IPL form went against him.

“Maybe his form in this particular edition of the IPL hasn’t been great. He hasn’t had that many opportunities, maybe that’s the reason why they’ve (selectors) not picked him,” Gavaskar said to Sports Today.

India squad for T20 World Cup: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Hardik Pandya (Vice Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.

Reserves: Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan.