Former India opener Krishnamachari Srikkanth criticized the
BCCI
selection committee for excluding
Rinku Singh
from the 15-member squad for the
T20 World Cup
this June, adding that the 26-year-old batter has been made a "scapegoat."
Singh debuted in T20 cricket in 2023 against Ireland and has since played 15 matches, scoring 356 runs in 11 innings with a strike rate of 176.24.
His last international appearance was against Afghanistan in January 2024.
India's T20 World Cup journey kicks off against Ireland on June 5 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, followed by the high-profile encounter against Pakistan on June 9 at the same venue. Matches against the USA and Canada are scheduled for June 12 and 15, respectively.
Srikkanth, speaking on his official YouTube channel, highlighted Rinku's impactful unbeaten 69-run performance against Afghanistan in the third T20I earlier this year. He strongly criticized the Indian selectors, denouncing their decision to ignore Rinku as "rubbish" selection.
"He has played match-winning knocks in South Africa. Remember the game against Afghanistan in which Rohit scored a hundred? India were 22 for 4; from there they scored 212. Rinku played a crucial knock. He has given his all whenever he has played for India. This is rubbish, rubbish selection! Why do you need four spinners? All of them have to go? You have made the selection to please a few people and you have made Rinku Singh a scapegoat," Srikkanth said.
The ex-India captain also contended that Rinku consistently delivered whenever given the chance, asserting that he deserved a spot in the 15-player squad.
"I am not at all happy. Come on all of you. Rinku Singh has been spoken about all over the world. He has performed at each and every opportunity he has got. How can you drop Rinku Singh? You drop anyone else, it doesn't matter. In my view, Rinku Singh should have been there, even if that meant you had to drop
Yashasvi Jaiswal
," he added.
In the squad, India has included two wicket-keepers, Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson. Shubman Gill, Rinku, Khaleel Ahmed, and Avesh Khan have been designated as reserve players.
India Squad: 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, Mohammed Siraj
(With ANI inputs)
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