The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) senior selection committee announced India’s 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 on Tuesday, April 30, and one notable omission that raised eyebrows was that of Rinku Singh. Despite his consistent performances in recent matches, including a match-winning knock against Australia, the talented batsman was surprisingly left out of the squad.
Rinku Singh, known for his exceptional ability to bat at different gears, has scored 356 runs in 15 T20Is for India, including two fifties. His consistency earned him an ODI debut earlier this year in South Africa, where he scored 55 across two games. Rinku averages 89 in T20Is and has struck at a staggering rate of 176, drawing comparisons to the legendary MS Dhoni.
Many expected Rinku Singh to be one of the first names on the T20 World Cup squad. However, the 26-year-old was left out, sparking controversy among cricket fans and experts alike. Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan was among those who spoke out against the omission, saying that Rinku’s recent performances should not have been ignored when selecting the squad.
India’s T20 World Cup squad includes skipper Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (vice-captain), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Sanju Samson (wicket-keeper), Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj.
While Rinku Singh’s omission came as a surprise, India still has a strong squad with a mix of experience and young talent. The team will be hoping to put in a strong performance at the T20 World Cup, which will be held in the USA and West Indies from May 26 to June 16, 2024.
