Rinku Singh a 'Certainty' for India's T20 World Cup Squad, Says Srikkanth

Krishnamachari Srikkanth, the former India opener and chief selector, has strongly advocated for the inclusion of left-handed batter Rinku Singh in India's 15-member squad for the upcoming Men's T20 World Cup. Srikkanth believes that Singh's impressive international track record and finishing skills make him a certainty for the team.

Singh rose to prominence during the 2023 IPL season, where he hit five consecutive sixes in the final over against the Gujarat Titans. He continued to showcase his finishing prowess throughout the season, amassing 356 runs in 15 T20I matches for India, with a remarkable strike rate of 176.23.

Despite limited opportunities in the ongoing IPL 2024 due to Kolkata Knight Riders' strong top-order performance, Singh has maintained a high strike rate of 157.74 in eight matches. Srikkanth emphasized that Singh's international record should be prioritized over recent form.

"Rinku Singh is a certainty in my 15. He hasn't got that many opportunities to bat in the IPL, but you see his international track record, it's an amazing track record. Amazing track record in South Africa and with every opportunity he has got. So Rinku Singh has to be a certainty in the 15," said Srikkanth.

Matthew Hayden, the former Australia batter, also praised the IPL for its role in identifying and developing Indian talent. He believes that the tournament has brought players like Singh and Yashasvi Jaiswal into the spotlight, making them contenders for the World Cup squad.

India, the 2007 T20 World Cup champions, will begin their campaign on June 5 against Ireland in New York. They are placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, Canada, and tournament co-hosts USA.

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