ICC T20 World Cup 2024: Rinku Singh's WC selection in danger? Sanjay Manjrekar expresses concern

While the Indian Premier League 2024 (IPL 2024) is currently underway, there is absolutely no denying that the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup is fast becoming the talk of the town.

The Indian cricket fraternity has been busy discussing the potential inclusions in Team India's squad for the marquee event, scheduled to take place in June this year. The T20 World Cup will get underway on June 1, just five days after the IPL 2024 ends on May 26. 

Many believe that the ongoing IPL 2024 will play a key role in a player's inclusion in the India squad. While a few big names are automatic selections, a number of places are still up for grabs. One of them is the finisher's spot in the team. In recent months, Rinku Singh was India's designated finisher in the T20 format and has done a brilliant job so far.

Rinku Singh earned his maiden India call-up last year after impressing in IPL 2023. He had scored 474 runs in 14 games at an average of 59.25 and a strike-rate of almost 150. The southpaw had also famously hit Yash Dayal for five sixes in a row when Kolkata Knight Riders needed an improbable 28 runs on the last five balls.

Sanjay Manjrekar on Rinku Singh's place in the India squad:

Unlike the last IPL, Rinku Singh has not really managed to make an impact in the ongoing IPL as he has hardly got any chance to bat. In six games so far, he has faced only 51 deliveries and has scored 83 runs. With the KKR star hardly getting any chance this season, many believe that it could hamper his chances of selection in the T20 World Cup squad.

While only time will reveal Rinku Singh's fate, former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar has said that the batsman should be "walking into" the Indian team. The former cricket-turned-commentator praised Rinku for his consistency and range as he urged the selectors to include him in the World Cup squad.

"Because he's not getting many opportunities, I hope selectors won't forget about Rinku Singh," Manjrekar told Firstpost.

"He's a straight walk-in into the Indian team. Every time he has got the opportunity, you've seen how good he can be, in the sense of his consistency and the range that he has. He's somebody who I like, apart from the core of the Indian team, apart from the big names we are thinking about," said Manjrekar.

So far, Rinku has played 15 T20Is for Team India and has remained unbeaten in seven of them. In those 15 games, he has scored 356 runs at an average of almost 90 and a strike-rate of more than 175.