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Indian chief selector Ajit Agarkar issued an explanation for the omission of middle-order batter Rinku Singh. T he young Kolkata Knight Riders star has been one of the brightest stars in Indian cricket after his breakout IPL 2023 season after which he was picked for the national side. Singh continued his stellar against teams like Australia, South Africa and Afghanistan.
In 15 T20Is, Rinku has impressed in the role of a finisher by scoring 356 runs in 11 innings at an average of 89.0 and a strike rate of 176.24. But despite these numbers, the 26-year-old wasn't picked in the 15-man squad and was rather named among the four travelling reserves. Explaining Rinku and opening batter Shubman Gill's exclusion, Ajit Agarkar explained that the plan was to include a few wrist-spinning options in the squad.
He has done nothing wrong, even Shubman: Agarkar on omission of Rinku Singh
Speaking in the press conference, Agarkar said, "He has done nothing wrong, even Shubman Gill. There are a couple of wrist spinners in the team to give Rohit more options. Similar case for Axar who is a batting all-rounder. We thought to have another bowling option might be handy. It was tough on him, but at the end of the day we had to pick the team."
Rubbish selection: Srikanth on no Rinku in India T20 World Cup '24 squad
Speaking in favour of Rinku Singh's inclusion, 1983 World Cup winner Kris Srikanth deemed BCCI's decision as rubbish. In a video shared on Srikanth's YouTube channel, the former Indian opening batter expressed, "He has played match-winning knocks in South Africa. Remember the game against Afghanistan in which Rohit scored a hundred? India were 22 for 4, from there, they scored 212. Rinku played a crucial Knock."
"He has given his all whenever he played for India. This is rubbish, rubbish selection. Why do you need 4 spinners? All of them have to go? You have made the selection to please a few people and you have made Rinku Singh a scapegoat," Srikkanth said.
