Respected cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle has shed light on the reasons behind the exclusion of Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) batsman Rinku Singh from India’s squad for the upcoming 5-match T20I series against the West Indies, set to commence on August 3.
Bhogle believes that the selection decision came down to a choice between Rinku Singh and Tilak Varma, with the selectors ultimately opting for Varma due to his impressive performances in the last two IPL seasons for Mumbai Indians (MI), led by Rohit Sharma.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tilak Varma earned their maiden call-ups to the Indian T20I squad for the series in the West Indies and the USA, as announced by the newly-appointed Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar. Both players showcased exceptional performances during the IPL 2023 season, securing their spots in the squad. Notably, Agarkar, who was recently named Chairman of the men’s selection committee, did not include Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rinku Singh, two other IPL players.
The exclusion of Rinku Singh has raised concerns among fans and former cricketers, especially in the absence of Rishabh Pant. Currently, India has only Hardik Pandya and Sanju Samson as recognized “finishers,” although both have been batting higher up the order for their respective IPL franchises at numbers 3 and 4. While Jaiswal and Varma’s selection was justified, questions have been raised regarding the omission of Gaikwad and Rinku Singh.
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Harsha Bhogle, a renowned cricket analyst, pointed out that with the selection of Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Ishan Kishan as the second wicket-keeper (who is also an opener), there was no room left for Gaikwad. Bhogle acknowledged that the decision between Rinku Singh and Tilak Varma was a difficult one.
“It’s tough for Gaikwad and Rinku Singh. Once they settled on Jaiswal and Gill, and wanted Ishan as a keeper, there was no space left for Gaikwad. In Rinku’s case, it was a direct choice between him and Tilak Varma. A very tough decision to make. Sometimes, when you are labeled as a finisher, it limits your opportunities. But Rinku is right there, knocking on the door,” Harsha Bhogle tweeted.
Bhogle further expressed his concern regarding the bowling department. Apart from Axar Patel, there are no other batsmen who contribute significantly with the ball. Given that, apart from Hardik Pandya, there are no bowlers who bat consistently, the team’s balance is not ideal. Bhogle suggested that it might be challenging to accommodate both Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal in the playing XI, considering Axar’s inclusion. He added that for the West Indies series, he would prefer to have both Kuldeep and Chahal, with Arshdeep Singh and either Avesh Khan or Mukesh Kumar, while Hardik Pandya shares the new ball and contributes at the death overs.