Former Indian cricketer and analyst Wasim Jaffer has reckoned that the Indian T20I side is dearly missing someone like Rinku Singh in the ongoing five-match series against the West Indies, which is levelled 2-2.
Notably, the Indian team management, led by Gautam Gambhir, is aiming for more batting depth in the current T20I side, which has resulted in having more all-rounders in the XI. Eventually, Rinku Singh lost his place in the squad for the same reason.
“If you look from a batter’s perspective, Rinku is miles ahead of everyone else. He bats amazingly at number five and six, plus he is a left-hander. I feel it is very unfortunate that he is not part of this Indian team purely because he cannot bowl. I can understand Rajat’s (Patidar) case, as he bats in the top order and there is no place there, but Rinku should be there,” Jaffer said on his YouTube channel.
“If you had Rinku in that position, you never know. He could have changed the game. He has the capacity and has won a lot of matches in franchise cricket in this manner,” he added.
In the fourth T20I, the West Indies was tasked to bat first and they posted an imposing total of 247/3 in 20 overs, thanks to Shai Hope’s unbeaten 102 off 50 with four fours and nine sixes at a strike rate of 204.
In the chase, India could score 223 before getting bundled out in 19.3 overs. Sanju Samson (56), Tilak Varma (43) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (41) were decent enough, but couldn’t take the side over the line. West Indies all-rounder Keemo Paul scalped a five-wicket haul.
