India's squad for the upcoming 2025 Asia Cup is expected to be revealed on Tuesday, August 19. The T20I tournament is scheduled to be played in the United Arab Emirates from September 9.
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As the selectors meet on Tuesday to finalize the squad, they will face a very tough task in choosing the first fifteen from the vast pool of talented players.
There have been speculations about the inclusion of various players, and one such player is the Indian batter Rinku Singh, whose place in the squad has become a matter of debate.
Rinku Singh to miss the Asia Cup T20?
The batter from Aligarh and KKR's star Rinku Singh might have to miss out on India's T20I squad for the upcoming Asia Cup.
Rinku made his name during the 2022 IPL season, when he hit Yash Dayal for five sixes in the last over and sealed the game for the Kolkata Knight Riders. His consistent performances throughout the IPL season and good work in domestic cricket were soon rewarded as he made his India debut against Ireland in 2023.
"If all are fit and available, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (batter-keeper), Tilak Varma, skipper Surya Kumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya are automatic selections in the top five," a former national selector told PTI.
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Rinku's presence in the squad in such a case seems unlikely. Moreover, India's head coach Gautam Gambhir is more fond of a team with more all-rounders, rather than one-dimensional players, who can just bat or bowl.
Why Rinku Singh is not a certainty in India's Asia Cup squad?
The former national selector mentioned that while there are speculations about picking players such as Gill, Jaiswal, and Shreyas, there is no place for them in the side. India's top order in the shortest format is already settled, and the question that arises is, if you bring in these placers, who will they replace?
"I only see Rinku's spot being iffy as he isn't required as much as some of the top order batters," added the selector.
In his short international career, Rinku has played 33 T20Is for India, scoring 546 runs at an average of 42 and a strike rate of 161. While his international records are decent, his diminishing role and fewer opportunities for his IPL franchise KKR, have raised several questions over his inclusion in the Indian squad.
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