Former BCCI chief selector Saba Karim has advocated for Rinku Singh to open India's batting alongside Abhishek Sharma in the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh. Karim believes that Rinku's explosive batting style would complement Abhishek's aggressive approach, creating a formidable opening pair. He expressed his thoughts during an analysis show on Jio Cinema, which coincided with India's second Test against Bangladesh.
Saba Karim suggests Rinku Singh as India's T20I opener
Karim suggested that Rinku Singh's batting skills could be more effectively employed higher in the batting order, especially as an opener. He highlighted that Rinku's potential has often been under-utilised in the lower middle order, typically batting at positions 6 or 7, which has restricted his chances to significantly influence the game.
"There is a strong possibility that we may see Rinku Singh along with Abhishek Sharma (open for India). Whatever opportunities Rinku has had so far in this side, he comes in number six or seven ,and he hardly gets any balls to get himself in... Rinku, mind you, is quite a complete player. If he gets more opportunities, if he gets more deliveries to face, he can add more value to the side. So there is a strong possibility of having that combination," Saba Karim said.
Karim's belief in Rinku's potential
Karim believes that promoting Rinku to the opening slot would allow him to freely express his attacking style of play and contribute more significantly to India's performance. Rinku has been selected to be part of India's 15-man squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series, which will be led by Suryakumar Yadav and is scheduled to commence on October 6. The series offers a valuable opportunity for the left-handed batsman to solidify his position in India's T20 setup, especially after having limited playing time in recent matches. During the previous T20I series against Sri Lanka, Rinku was often placed down the order and saw minimal time at the crease, which hindered his ability to showcase his true potential. Saba Karim's support could prove to be a game-changer for Rinku, as a promotion to the opening slot would not only enhance his batting prospects but also add depth to India's top-order, a crucial aspect in the shorter format of the game.
India’s squad for Bangladesh T20Is:
Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Riyan Parag, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakaravarthy, JItesh Sharma (wk), Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Mayank Yadav.
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