Former Indian cricketer Krishnamachari Srikkanth has lashed out at the Indian selection committee for not keeping Rinku Singh in the 15-man squad for the upcoming 2024 World Cup, saying the 26-year-old batsman had been made a “scapegoat”. Rinku made his T20 debut in 2023 against Ireland, after which he played 15 matches and 11 innings, scoring 356 runs at a strike rate of 176.24. The left-handed batsman played his last 20-over match for India against Afghanistan in January 2024.
India will begin its T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland on June 5, 2024 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York, followed by the big match against Pakistan on June 9, 2024 at the same venue. India will then play the US and Canada on June 12 and 15 respectively.
While speaking on his official YouTube channel, Srikkanth pointed out Rinku's unbeaten 69-run defeat to the Afghan side in the 3rd T20I. He also slammed the Indian selectors and called it a 'nonsense' selection.
“He has played match-winning knocks in South Africa. Remember the match against Afghanistan where Rohit scored a hundred? India were 22 for 4, from then on they scored 212. Rinku played a crucial Knock. He has given his all whenever he wanted. ” played for India. This is nonsense, nonsense selection. Why do you need four spinners? You made the selection to please a few people and you made Rinku Singh the scapegoat,” Srikkanth said.
The former India captain added that Rinku performed well in every chance he got and should have been there in the 15-man squad.
“I'm not happy at all. Come on all of you. Rinku Singh is being talked about all over the world. He has performed at every opportunity he got. How can you drop Rinku Singh? You drop someone else, it doesn't matter not matter. In my opinion, Rinku Singh should have been there even if it meant dropping Yashasvi Jaiswal,” he added.
India have added two wicketkeepers, including Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson, to their squad. Star batsman Virat Kohli, who scored a lot of runs in the ongoing IPL 2024, has also been added to the squad.
Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan have been named as reserved players.
India have been placed in Group A of the ICC tournament alongside arch-rivals Pakistan, Ireland, Canada and co-hosts USA.
Indian selection: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.
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