India vs West Indies: Rinku Singh To Get Look-In During T20I Series?

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Uttar Pradesh batter Rinku Singh, who had a brilliant IPL 2023 with Kolkata Knight Riders, is reportedly set to get a look-in in the Indian national team for upcoming the T20I series in West Indies and Florida.

According to report from Times of India (TOI), the KKR batter, who set the IPL 2023 on fire with his sizzling performances, is set to be picked for the five-match T20I series against the West Indies.

The 25-year-old had amassed 474 runs, including four fifties in 14 matches during the IPL 2023 at an average of 59.25 and a strike rate of 149. 52. The southpaw showcased his ability to finish matches with a couple of match-winning knocks in run chases.

From a near impossible situation, Rinku smashed five back-to-back sixes - 30 off 5 balls off Yash Dayal to help KKR pull off a run chase against Gujarat Titans. He also played many crucial knocks in run chases for KKR in the bygone season.

Following his display in the IPL 2023, the UP batter got the backing of several former cricketers to break into the Indian national team that has shortage of left-handed batters, especially due to the absence of injured wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant.

Rinku will be a perfect fit in the T20I side and the West Indies series will be a good place to give the youngster a chance alongside the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Verma and Sai Sudarshan among others.

All India selection committee has announced the Test and ODI squads for the tour to West Indies, but are yet to announce the squad for the T20Is, which will begin on August 3 in Tarouba, Trinidad & Tobago.

The T20I series will continue with two matches at the Providence Stadium in Guyana before the series in concluded with two matches at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground in Lauderhill, Florida.

Umesh Yadav dropped or rested from Test team?

Pacer Umesh Yadav was omitted from the Test squad for the West Indies tour after a disappointing World Test Championship (WTC) final appearance against Australia.

There was speculation that the pacer has been dropped, but TOI report states that Umesh is not dropped and is being rested due to injury. The report also says the pacer is recovering at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.

"Umesh is suffering from a hamstring injury and is recovering at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore," a source in the BCCI was quouted as saying to TOI.

Will Umesh and Pujara get a chance again?

The report also states that the selectors haven't closed the doors on seniors Umesh or Cheteshwar Pujara, who have been dropped from the Test side, from making a comeback into the national side.

"If Ajinkya Rahane can be made the vice-captain of the Test side after being out for 15 months before the WTC final, anyone can make a comeback. The doors aren't closed on any senior player," the source said.

"It's just that you need to start transitioning somewhere. The selectors don't want a situation where all the seniors quit the scene in one go and we don't have anyone experienced left in the dressing room," he said.

Pacer Mohammed Shami, who has been left out of the Test and the ODI series, however, is unlikely to feature in T20I series as well as they look to manage his workload with World Cup just a few months away.