'No One Better Than Rinku in India': Ex-Chief Selector Finds It ‘Hard to Digest’ Young Batter's World Cup Snub

Rinku Singh’s non-selection for the T20 World Cup continues to be a huge matter of discussion in the Indian cricket fraternity. The left-hand batter was left out as the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee announced the 15-man side for the showpiece event, scheduled to take place in the West Indies and the US next month. As many as four all-rounders have been accommodated in the final fifteen, leaving no place for Rinku. However, the dynamic batter will travel with the team as one of the four reserve players.

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Former cricketers have been expressing their thoughts on Rinku’s exclusion. The latest one to join the bandwagon is former selector MSK Prasad, who picked the Indian team for the 2019 ODI World Cup.

Speaking with RevSports, Prasad reserved massive praise for Rinku, stating that India don’t have a better finisher than him at the moment. He also opined that the left-hander missed out just because the conditions in the Caribbean would require an extra spinner, prompting the selectors to have Axar Patel in the squad.

“I feel all three Rinku, KL Rahul and Shubman Gill were very close to getting selected,” Prasad told RevSports.

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“Having said that, the selectors did a good job. They were very clear that in the Caribbean and the USA, the wickets will assist the spinners during the latter part of the summer. I think that is the only reason for going for an extra spinner, Axar. That is the reason Rinku had to miss out.

“See if you look at the players who fit in the role as finishers, I think there is no one better than Rinku now in India. I also feel it is a little unfortunate and hard to digest the fact Rinku has been ignored,” he added.

‘Rohit, Jaiswal should open’

The former chief selector asserted that skipper Rohit Sharma should open with Yashasvi Jaiswal, with Virat Kohli coming one down.

“For me, Rohit (Sharma) and Yashasvi (Jaiswal) should open the batting for India. The reason I see the youngster opening the batting is a left-hand and right-hand combination. Virat will go in at No. 3 and Surya at No. 4 followed by Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja along with Shivam Dube,” he added.