Former cricketer Aakash Chopra believes that Rinku Singh would have been a more suitable choice than Tilak Varma for the Indian T20I squad in their upcoming tour of the West Indies, unless Mumbai Indians’ batter is intended to play at the number three position.
Rinku had a remarkable performance for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) during the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, emerging as their top batter.
One of Rinku’s memorable moments came during a league match when he hit five consecutive sixes off Yash Dayal in the final over, leading KKR to a thrilling victory.
Throughout the season, the 25-year-old amassed 474 runs in 14 matches, maintaining an impressive average of 59.25. His primary role for KKR was that of a finisher, showcasing his ability to excel under pressure.
Despite KKR not qualifying for the playoffs, Rinku’s outstanding performances garnered significant praise from cricket personalities like Ravi Shastri and Harbhajan Singh, who believe that the Uttar Pradesh batsman is on the verge of earning a call-up to the Indian national team.
However, when the T20I squad for the West Indies tour was announced on July 5, Rinku was conspicuously absent, while players such as Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tilak Varma secured spots in the team.
Aakash Chopra expressed his discontent with the selected squad, stating on his YouTube channel, as quoted by News 18, that he was not pleased with Rinku’s exclusion.
He argued that if the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was looking for someone to bat after Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh would have been the ideal choice instead of Tilak Varma.
Chopra’s opinion reflects his belief that Rinku’s form and performance in the IPL warranted a place in the Indian T20I squad. Unless Tilak Varma is expected to bat at number three, Aakash Chopra considers Rinku Singh to be a more suitable option for the role of a late-order batsman following Pandya.
While the final decision rests with the selectors and team management, Aakash Chopra’s perspective sheds light on the potential inclusion of Rinku Singh and the considerations behind the squad selection for the West Indies tour.
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