IND vs WI: "Sometimes When You Get Slotted As A Finisher"- Harsha Bhogle Explains Rinku Singh's Exclusion For WI T20Is

Renowned pundit Harsha Bhogle has explained why Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) batter Rinku Singh was left out of India’s selection for the 5-match T20I series against the West Indies, which begins on August 3.

Bhogle believes it was a toss-up between Rinku Singh and Tilak Varma, and the selectors chose the latter, who has performed in his last two IPL seasons for Rohit Sharma’s Mumbai Indians (MI).

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Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tilak Varma were given their maiden call-ups in India’s T20I team for the 5-T20I series in the West Indies and the USA by new Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar. Both players had earned their spots after an outstanding IPL 2023 season. Agarkar, who was just named the new Chairman of the men’s selection committee, neglected to include Gaikwad and Singh, two additional IPL players.

The omission of Rinku Singh, in particular, has irritated fans and former cricketers, particularly in the absence of Rishabh Pant. India has just Hardik Pandya and Sanju Samson as so-called finishers, despite the fact that both have been batting higher up the order for their respective IPL franchises at numbers 3 and 4. While Jaiswal and Varma deserved to be called up to the T20I squad, the dismissal of Gaikwad and Rinku is being called into doubt.

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Harsha Bhogle explained why Rinku Singh was excluded:

Renowned analyst Harsha Bhogle pointed out that because Jaiswal and Gill were chosen, as well as Ishan Kishan as the second wicket-keeper, and Kishan is also an opener, there was no room for Gaikwad. Bhogle stated to Rinku that Tilak Varma was chosen over him, which was a difficult decision.

“Bit hard on Gaikwad and Rinku Singh. I guess the moment they settled, understandably, on Jaiswal & Gill, and wanted Ishan as a keeper, there was no room for Gaikwad. With Rinku, it was a straight call between him and Tilak Varma. A very difficult choice to make. Sometimes when you get slotted as a finisher, you narrow your offerings. But Rinku is right there, at the door,” Harsha Bhogle tweeted.

“My greater concern is with the bowling. Other than Axar, no one bats, and given that other than Hardik, no batter bowls, the balance of this team is not perfect. Given Axar has to play, it might get tough to get both Kuldeep and Chahal in. In the West Indies, I would prefer both and play Arshdeep and Avesh/Mukesh with Hardik sharing the new ball and contributing at the death” Harsha Bhogle added.

India’s T20I squad: Ishan Kishan (wk), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Surya Kumar Yadav (VC), Sanju Samson (wk), Hardik Pandya (C), Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar.