Aakash Chopra thinks Rinku Singh may not have been chosen for India’s group for the coming World Cup event. This might be because the Kolkata Knight Riders did not let him play much in the IPL 2024 season.
The people who choose players picked the 15 Indian players for the big event on April 30th. Rinku was not picked for the main group, but he is one of four extra players. The other extra players are Shubman Gill, Avesh Khan and Khaleel Ahmed.
In a YouTube video, Chopra stated that Rinku’s non-selection is a huge surprise. He believed that a shortage of time in the middle during the IPL 2024 would have harmed the KKR batter’s chances.
“Rinku Singh’s absence is a huge surprise. I felt he was undroppable. When we used to make the team six months back, it seemed like whenever you wrote the XI, Rinku Singh’s name would be first, and after that, you would think whether Rinku and Yashasvi (Jaiswal) could be played together.”
“No one would have thought even once that Rinku Singh wouldn’t be part of this team. Why is he not part of the team? One is the recent form. KKR didn’t help him by not getting him to bat.”
Aakash Chopra
Rinku Singh has hit 123 runs with a very good strike rate of 150.00 in eight innings in the IPL 2024 series. In KKR’s last match against Delhi Capitals, he was sent to bat at number three spot. But Rinku could not take full advantage of this big chance.
“It seemed like it became a shootout between Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh” – Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra believes Shivam Dube may have beaten Rinku Singh to the last middle-order batter’s spot.
“In the end, it seemed like it became a shootout between Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh, that you should take whoever between them was hitting better and had more form. So Shivam Dube went there because he is batting that well.”
Aakash Chopra
While acknowledging that Rinku’s limited opportunities in the IPL 2024 should not be used against him, the cricketer-turned-commentator noted that the dearth of bowling alternatives in India’s top six hampered Rinku’s selection prospects.
“Rinku Singh was left behind because he didn’t get to bat. Him not getting to bat – can you hold it against him? Ideally not, because at times you don’t get to bat, and when did IPL performances go above performances for India? You are absolutely right if you are thinking from that perspective.”
“The other aspect of this is that this team doesn’t have all-rounders at all. Ravindra Jadeja is an all-rounder, but is he a great all-rounder in T20 cricket? The answer to that question is no. Does any of the top six batters bowl? Hardik Pandya is the only one who is bowling a little although his bowling is still not at that level. Shivam Dube doesn’t bowl since the impact sub has come. So who will bowl?”
Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra a finished by expressing his sincere concern for Rinku’s missed opportunity. While conceding that the teenager still has a chance to participate in future World Cups, he used VVS Laxman’s example to demonstrate that some players never have the opportunity.
