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Should Rinku Singh be included in India’s Asia Cup squad? There has been a lot of debate on this already. And to be fair, there are arguments for both sides. Rinku did not have the best of IPL seasons, and that’s a fact. Having said that, he has done well in tough situations for India in the limited opportunities that he has got.
The question is simple – will the selectors and the head coach-captain go by IPL performance, or will they reward a player for having done well for India in the opportunities that he has been given? If it’s IPL form, then there is no reason why Sai Sudarshan, for example, would not be included. But the reality is that he isn’t really in contention. Similarly, Sanju Samson and Tilak Verma, currently the second-ranked T20 batter in the world, did not have great IPLs either. And yet Abhishek Sharma, Samson and Tilak are all but certain to make the team.
This leads me to believe that the index will not be the IPL. Rather, it will be what a player has done for the national team. It could be a mesh of both. In such a scenario, it is likely that Rinku does stand a chance, and a very decent one at that. If Samson and Tilak are picked on the basis of what they have done for India, the same should apply to Rinku.
Another point needs to be made here. I don’t think Rinku has been used the best way in the last 12 months. For KKR, he batted too low, and on very few occasions did he have enough balls to make a mark. If a player is consistently given 8-10 balls at the end of an innings, it is impossible to judge impact. While he is now a designated finisher, playing these few balls can never be an index to evaluate a cricketer. Add to that his fielding prowess. Rinku is an absolute livewire on the field, and will inevitably take some superb catches in the outfield and save valuable runs by diving around. It is an added bonus, and on occasions, will have a telling impact on the game.
Can he make the first XI? With quality players in abundance, it might be difficult. Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel can both bat 5-6-7 for India, and then there is Washington Sundar. Having said that, it could well be that Hardik is asked to bat 5, while Rinku closes out the innings. We must remember that the Asia Cup is also a rehearsal for the World Cup, and the think-tank will want to see who all fit in with India’s T20 template. “Unless you give people enough opportunities, you wouldn’t know if someone is suited for a specific role,” said a source. “And it is unfair to overlook someone without trying him out well enough. The emphasis is on continuity and that’s what is expected in the selection meeting on the 19th.”
In sum, Rinku does have a chance and a decent one. I, for one, will be surprised to see him miss out and not be on that flight to Dubai.
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