T20 WC 2024: "Cricket ability should come before likability on Instagram"- Ambati Rayudu crushes Rohit Sharma-Ajit Agarkar for..
Published - 01 May 2024, 04:35 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:11 AM
Former Indian cricketer Ambati Rayudu criticized skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid over Rinku Singh's non-selection in India's squad for the T20 World Cup 2024. Ambati Rayudu stated that cricketing ability should be the criterion for selection, not a player's popularity on social media.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the 15-member squad for the upcoming World Cup on Tuesday, April 30. Rinku Singh was a notable exclusion from the squad despite his impressive record for India. However, Rinku has been named as a traveling reserve for the ICC tournament.
Leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant have been recalled to the national cricket team. The selectors have named four spinners, including Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, in the team. All-rounder Shivam Dube's inclusion leaves limited room for players like Rinku Singh.
The 26-year-old batter has amassed 365 runs in 15 matches at an impressive average of 89 and a remarkable strike rate of 176.2. The left-handed batter has hit two half-centuries with a best score of 69*. He has showcased consistency in the latter overs, despite his limited opportunities for India.
Clearly Indicates Stats Rule Over Cricketing Sense - Ambati Rayudu
Ambati Rayudu emphasized Singh's ability as a finisher and suggested that his exclusion indicates a preference for statistics over cricketing sense.
"Rinku Singh’s omission clearly indicates stats rule over cricketing sense.. who in this selected Indian has been walking out in the 16 th and 17 th over in a t20 game in the last 2 years and playing fluently with a high strike rate and can win a game except Ravindra Jadeja.. he is a big miss.. quality should come before quantity and most importantly cricketing ability should come before likability on Instagram," Rayudu wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Rinku Singh's omission draws parallels to Ambati Rayudu's experience. Rayudu was snubbed from the 2019 World Cup squad despite being part of the team for 2-3 years.
Rinku SIngh Is A Certainty In My 15 - Tom Moody
Former Australian cricketer Tom Moody stated that India couldn't select both Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh for the T20 World Cup squad. Moody pointed out that Singh would have been in the squad if he could bowl.
"The way I see it, it had nothing to do with form, it had everything to do with the fact that Dube can bowl. If Rinku Singh could bowl, if both were identical cricketers, left-hand batters who could bowl part-time medium pace, he would be in that squad. The fact that Dube bowls, it gives them flexibility of different combinations and around balancing their side with either three or two spinners."
India has the option to modify their 15-member squad until May 25, following ICC guidelines. Rinku Singh's performance in upcoming matches in the IPL 2024 could influence his chances of inclusion before the deadline.
Also read: T20 World Cup 2024: Sanju Samson issues an official statement after being picked in the Indian squad
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ICC T20 World Cup 2024 India National Cricket Team Rinku Singh Ambati Rayudu Tom Moody Rohit SharmaAbout the Author
Sai Vaitla is an author at Cricketaddictor and he has been working since September 2022. Sai Vaitla... Read more
