India’s Staggering Depth
The depth in Indian Cricket is staggering and particularly when it comes to the shorter version of the game, India has the capacity to send at least two teams if not more to major competitions. In this ‘Problem of Plenty’ scenario to finalise the best 15 players to represent India at the T20 World Cup to be held in the West Indies and the USA next month, was not going to be an easy task . The selectors, the captain and coach brainstormed and eventually came up with the squad to take on the rest of the World.
The Scrutiny Bandwagon
The critics and fans jumped onto the ‘ scrutiny bandwagon ‘ in no time. Everyone had their say, as the team was subjected to a thorough examination from all and sundry. My post today is not another disection of the squad, but just a note on one of the players who missed the bus, Rinku Singh. Though in the reserves, Rinku will not be representing India at the World Cup. His omission from the squad was a bit of a surprise to me and I could not hold myself back in writing this post today.
No Team Without Rinku
The days prior to the announcement of the squad saw a plethora of commentators announcing their teams to get the interest going on the social media. Rinku invariably appeared in most teams and my take on the team for the T20 World Cup was no different. Rinku was always a part of my 15. Having gone through the grind for years, Rinku had put up a series of good performances in the IPL from the 2022 season onwards, with his 5 consecutive 6s of Yash Dayal last year to record a sensational win being the icing on the cake.
The Consistent Southpaw
His brilliant run won him the India cap in 2023. Rinku in Indian colours too, did no wrong. In the 15 T20s he played for India since his debut, the brilliant southpaw scored 356 runs with a mighty strike rate of 176. On most occasions he came late to either finish the innings on a flourish or to counter attack and resurrect a shaky start. Rinku was at home with the finisher tag and I do not remember him falling short of the expectations heaped on him by the Team. He was always brave and belligerent.
A Good Head & Steely Temperament
His steely temperament, the ability to start quickly, hit the long ball and stay on the wicket with determination not only allayed fears in the dug out, but his presence in the middle had a calming influence on the team. On the field too Rinku was electric. Running around chasing balls and attacking them, the live wire, only raised the fielding standards. With his catching too, Rinku displayed an extremely safe pair of hands.
Gritty Rinku Will Come Back
The positivity that Rinku brings along would have been vital at the World Cup. A complete team man, there is no doubt in my mind that there are not many like Rinku playing cricket around. His quiet IPL this year, where he hardly got a chance to bat might have influenced the selectors. And though they have put him in the reserves, it is nothing more than mere consolation for a player who had done no wrong to warrant his omission from the World Cup squad. Rinku would be hurting for sure and whatever I have understood of him, the gritty lad will come back even stronger.
Keep Going Rinku !!
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