"I wasn't selected because.."- Rinku Singh breaks silence on Duleep Trophy 2024 snub

Indian cricket team’s explosive batter Rinku Singh has made an honest revelation on why he was overlooked for the upcoming Duleep Trophy 2024 despite many international and fringe players picked for the tournament last week.

India’s domestic season 2024-25 is all set to kick off with the much-anticipated Duleep Trophy 2024, starting September 5. The BCCI unveiled the squads for the tournament on August 14, and the absence of Rinku has raised many eyebrows.

Rinku Singh opens up about Duleep Trophy 2024 exclusion and domestic performance

Notably, the upcoming Duleep Trophy 2024 will run until September 19 and will feature four teams: India A, India B, India C, and India D.

The rosters boast several big names, including Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube, and Shreyas Iyer.

With such a 60-player roster of Indian stars participating in the first-class tournament, the exclusion of Rinku, who is a prominent figure in India’s T20I team, has shocked fans and experts.

The left-handed batter, who is known for his explosive performances, has now publicly expressed his frustration over his omission from the upcoming Duleep Trophy 2024.

However, the 26-year-old admitted that his poor performance in domestic cricket is the main reason behind his getting axed for the upcoming tournament.

However, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) batter expressed his optimism of getting a chance in the next round, especially with Team India hosting Bangladesh in a two-match Test series in the second half of September.

I didn't perform well in the domestic season: Rinku Singh

Rinku Singh was quoted as saying by Sportstak: “I didn't perform that well (in the domestic season). I didn't play many matches in the Ranji Trophy...I played 2-3 matches. I wasn't selected because I didn't do well enough in those games. Hopefully, my name might be there for next-round matches.”

Meanwhile, Rinku made his international debut last year and quickly became a key player in India’s T20I middle order after a standout performance for the KKR in the IPL 2023. He even came close to securing a place in India’s 2024 T20 World Cup squad, but he ended up as a reserve player.

Amidst his T20 success, Rinku's first-class cricket career has taken a backseat recently. Last season, he appeared in only three Ranji Trophy matches, scoring 128 runs at an average of 42.66 with just one half-century. However, he has a great record in first-class cricket.

I am happy with whatever chances I am getting: Rinku Singh

Rinku has so far played 47 first-class matches, scoring 3,173 runs with the help of 20 half-centuries and seven centuries at an impressive average of 71.59.

Addressing concerns about being labeled as a T20 specialist despite his strong performances in other formats, Rinku stressed that he doesn’t mind the perception and he is happy with whatever he is being offered.

The Indian batter also admitted that it would be a significant achievement for him if he got a chance in the ODI and Test cricket, but he remains focused on making the most of his current opportunities.

Rinku signed off by saying, “No worries, I am happy with whatever chances I am getting. When I will be selected for ODIs or tests, it will be a huge deal for me. Whatever I am getting to play right now, I am playing.”