Harsha Bhogle explains Rinku Singh's exclusion, raises concern over balance of India T20I squad against WI

Add as a preferred source on Google

Harsha Bhogle has explained the exclusion of Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) batter Rinku Singh from India's squad for the 5-match T20I series against West Indies which kicks off from August 3.

The revered commentator has reckoned that there was a direct toss up between Rinku Singh and Tilak Varma and the selectors opted to go with the latter who has impressed in his last two IPL seasons for Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai Indians (MI).

Varma, a left-hand batter like Rinku, scored 343 runs in 11 matches at an average of 42.87 and a strike rate of 164.11. Rinku was also in red-hot form in the IPL 2023, scoring 474 runs in 14 matches at an average of 59.25 and a strike rate of 149.52.

Bhogle has further added that Rinku has narrowed his offering by growing in stature as a finisher. Going by what Harsha Bhogle is trying to imply, Varma edged past Rinku because of superior batting quality and technique.

Opener Ruturaj Gaikwad, who scored 590 runs in 16 matches at an average of 42.14 and a strike rate of 147.50 for CSK in IPL 2023, was also left out. According to Bhogle, Gaikwad lost his place to Ishan Kishan who can open and be sent down the order as well. Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal have also been picked and Gaikwad's inclusion would have meant India having four openers (3 right-handers and one left-hander in Jaiswal).

"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. 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," Bhogle tweeted.

'Balance of team not perfect'

Further, Harsha Bhogle raised concerns over the balance in the 15-member squad. He pointed out that Axar is the only bowler who can bat, and captain Hardik Pandya is the only batter who can bowl. He added that playing both Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzevndra Chahal was important in West Indies conditions and that would become a challenge with left-arm spinner Axar also in the eleven.

"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," he said.

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