When India won the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean last year, Rinku Singh was there to celebrate, even though he was not part of the final playing squad. The left-handed batter from Aligarh travelled with the Indian team to the USA and West Indies as a reserve player. After India lifted the trophy at Kensington Oval in Barbados, Rinku was seen holding the World Cup, a moment he later shared on social media, calling it a matter of destiny and faith (God’s Plan).
Rinku Singh has built his cricket career on belief and persistence. Whenever he has been given responsibility, whether in the Indian Premier League or in India’s T20 team, he has shown courage and composure under pressure. However, his chances at the international level have been limited and inconsistent.
Since India became the T20 world champions, Rinku Singh has played 20 T20 International matches. In six of those games, he did not get the opportunity to bat. Over the past year, his highest score in T20Is has been 53 runs against Bangladesh in New Delhi. During this period, he also recorded eight single-digit scores and was dismissed for zero against Zimbabwe in July 2024. Because Rinku Singh usually bats lower down the order, he rarely gets enough time at the crease to build longer innings.
There were moments when Rinku Singh appeared ready to cement his place. He scored the winning runs for India in the Asia Cup, which briefly brought him into focus. Despite that, he was not given an extended run. On the tour of Australia, he played only one T20I and did not get a chance to bat. He was then dropped from the squad for the South Africa T20I series, which India won 3-1.
At present, India’s T20 team looks settled even without Rinku Singh. Hardik Pandya has returned to form and continues to be an important all-rounder. Shivam Dube has also been batting aggressively and offers bowling options. Since both players contribute in more than one department, it has become difficult for a specialist finisher like Rinku to find a place. This has raised concerns that he could miss selection for another T20 World Cup, even with the tournament scheduled to be played on the home soil.
Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa, who was part of the 2007 T20 World Cup-winning team, shared his views on Rinku Singh’s situation. Speaking as a JioStar expert, Robin Uthappa said it was unfortunate that Rinku has not been able to secure a regular spot despite performing well whenever he has been trusted. He explained that the inclusion of Shubman Gill at the top of the order has affected team balance further down the batting lineup.
Robin Uthappa also pointed out that India currently carries two wicketkeeper-batters in the squad. Sanju Samson is seen as a third opener, while Jitesh Sharma plays the role of a finisher. Because teams usually need two wicketkeepers in major tournaments, the management had to choose between keeping Sanju Samson or Rinku Singh in the squad. With Shubman Gill already part of the team, Sanju retained his place and Rinku missed out.
Robin Uthappa also talked about Harshit Rana, a 23-year-old fast bowler from Delhi. Despite conceding runs in some matches, Harshit has been repeatedly selected by the team management. Robin Uthappa explained that modern T20 cricket values wicket-taking over economy rates. Harshit’s ability to take wickets regularly and contribute with the bat at number eight fits the aggressive approach India has adopted.
However, as per the latest reports, the selectors have announced the Indian team for the T20 World Cup and Rinku Singh has been included in the final 15 as Shubman Gill has been left out from the squad.
