Sunil Gavaskar Reveals Key ‘KKR’ Factor Impacting Rinku Singh’s Exclusion from India’s T20 World Cup Squad

Sunil Gavaskar Reveals Key ‘KKR’ Factor Impacting Rinku Singh’s Exclusion from India’s T20 World Cup Squad

There are questions after big-hitting Rinku Singh was left out of the starting Indian team for the next T20 World Cup in the Americas. After last year’s Indian Premier League, Rinku became a breakthrough sensation and went on to have incredible runs at bat when selected for the national squad. Rinku amassed 356 runs in 15 Twenty20 Internationals at an incredible average of 176.23, going undefeated in 11 innings. Along with Shubman Gill, Khaleel Ahmed, and Avesh Khan, Rinku was nominated as a reserve in the traveling party. This suggests that the selectors have chosen other players based on their present form and performance. Sunil Gavaskar, the former captain of India, agreed, attributing Rinku’s absence to the left-handed batter’s poor performance in the current IPL.

Since Venkatesh Iyer was promoted ahead of Rinku in the order, Gavaskar further feels that Rinku didn’t have as many opportunities in KKR’s batting lineup this year. Only 82 deliveries have been faced by the 26-year-old hitter this season. “Perhaps his performance in this IPL season hasn’t been all that outstanding. “Maybe because he hasn’t had many opportunities (with KKR), the selectors haven’t chosen him,” Gavaskar said to Sports Today.

This year, in eight IPL innings, Rinku has amassed 123 runs at an average of 20.50, going undefeated in two games. The fact that Rinku did not achieve a high point in any of his IPL 2024 innings may have worked against him. His greatest score so far for the Knight Riders this season is 26, which may have been the catalyst for selectors to move him down the list when he was up against players like Shivam Dube, who has been playing well for the Chennai Super Kings. The fact that Rinku is not in the starting lineup serves as another reminder of the fierce fight for slots on the Indian team. Rinku was probably left out of the 15-man traveling group because of his recent form, even though he had a great record in 15 T20Is prior.

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I can still make it to the squad.

Rinku may yet be able to return to the final 15. The ICC allows changes to be made to the current team until May 25. India’s 2024 T20 World Cup campaign will get started on June 5 against Ireland, and on June 9, it will feature a thrilling matchup in New York versus their bitter rivals, Pakistan.