In Gautam Gambhir’s “new Team India”, that prefers all-rounders, Rinku Singh might struggle to keep his spot
Rinku Singh has made a name for himself in T20 cricket, boasting impressive statistics: in 31 T20I matches, he has scored 507 runs at an average of 46 and a strike rate of 165, including three fifties. Despite his success, his position in the Indian T20I lineup is uncertain due to a strategic shift under head coach Gautam Gambhir, who favors all-rounders that provide depth in the batting order up to No. 8 or 9.
In the ongoing T20I series against England, Rinku was sidelined with a back spasm after playing the first match, leading to the inclusion of all-rounders Shivam Dube and Ramandeep Singh. The team already features versatile players like Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar, who can fill middle-order roles effectively.
With a plethora of all-rounder options available, Rinku's place as a pure batter appears precarious. His ability to fit into this evolving setup is questionable, especially as others like Sundar and Patel can perform similar roles while contributing with the ball. Thus, Rinku Singh's future in T20Is may hinge on his ability to adapt or excel in a crowded field of all-rounders.