Cricket legend Krishnamachari Srikkanth wasn't shy about slamming the selectors' decision to leave Rinku Singh out of the T20 World Cup squad. He called it ‘nonsense’ and argued that the Kolkata Knight Riders player was unfairly scapegoated. Rinku's impressive strike rate of 176 in 15 international appearances before January 2024, including two half-centuries, wasn't enough to secure him a place in the main squad. This move sparked outrage among fans, with many echoing Srikkanth's criticism. Rinku's consistent outings and ability to win matches had earned him respect on the world stage, making his exclusion even more puzzling for critics.
"I am not at all happy. C'mon all of you. Rinku Singh has been spoken about all over the world. He has performed in each and every opportunity he has got. How can you drop Rinku Singh? You drop anyone else, it doesn't matter. In my view, Rinku Singh should have been there, even if that meant you had to drop Yashasvi Jaiswal," Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.
The 1983-World Cup winner took particular aim at Rinku Singh's omission for not considering his big-game temperament. He pointed out Rinku's ability to bail India out in tough chases, like his crucial partnership with Rohit Sharma against Afghanistan. Srikkanth further fueled the fire by questioning the selection of four spinners in the squad, implying that the choice might not have been based solely on cricketing merit.
"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 concluded.
Rinku Singh rocketed onto the national scene in IPL 2023 with a jaw-dropping performance. His unforgettable six-hitting spree in the final over against GT sealed a dramatic win for KKR. This consistent run-scoring made him a hot contender for the Indian team, and his call-up followed swiftly.
Singh's international career thus far has been impressive. In just 15 T20Is, he's amassed 359 runs at an exceptional average of 89. Even more staggering is his strike rate of 176, showcasing his ability to score quickly and effectively. These numbers would be a strong case for selection in most teams, but Singh found himself amidst fierce competition for a spot in India's T20 World Cup squad.
India's T20 World Cup squad
Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), 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, Mohd. Siraj. Reserves: Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan.
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