'KKR didn't help...': Ex-player on reasons for Rinku's exclusion

NEW DELHI: Former Indian cricketer and commentator

Aakash Chopra

has voiced his astonishment and dismay at the absence of Kolkata Knight Riders' finisher

Rinku Singh

from the India squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Chopra's remarks have ignited fervent discussions among cricket enthusiasts following the squad announcement on Tuesday.
Chopra, known for his insightful analysis, shared his candid views on his Youtube channel, shedding light on the unexpected omission of Rinku Singh.

"Rinku Singh's absence is a huge surprise. I felt he was undroppable," Chopra expressed, underscoring Rinku's consistent presence in past discussions about team composition.

Examining the factors behind Rinku's exclusion, Chopra emphasized the significance of recent form, noting the limited opportunities afforded to Rinku by KKR in the ongoing IPL season. "One is the recent form. KKR didn't help him by not getting him to bat," Chopra remarked, drawing attention to the crucial role of match practice in shaping selection decisions.

Chopra hinted at a direct competition between Rinku Singh and other contenders for the squad, particularly

Shivam Dube

, suggesting that their performances became pivotal in the final selection.
"In the end, it seemed like it became a shootout between Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh, that you should take whoever between them was hitting better and had more form. So Shivam Dube went there because he is batting that well," Chopra explained, highlighting Dube's standout batting displays as a decisive factor in his inclusion.

"Rinku Singh was left behind because he didn't get to bat. Him not getting to bat - can you hold it against him? Ideally not, because at times you don't get to bat, and when did IPL performances go above performances for India? You are absolutely right if you are thinking from that perspective," Chopra stated.
Further scrutinizing the squad composition, Chopra expressed concern about the dearth of all-rounders, questioning the adequacy of the selected squad's versatility in the T20 format.
"The other aspect of this is that this team doesn't have all-rounders at all," he observed, casting doubt on the effectiveness of Ravindra Jadeja's all-round abilities and the limited bowling options among the top six batters.