Rinku Singh Sends Strong Statement in UP T20 League Following Favoritism Talks in Asia Cup Selection

Out-of-form Rinku Singh has been selected for India's T20I squad for the upcoming 2025 Asia Cup in the UAE, which starts on September 9.

Rinku Singh Sends Strong Statement in UP T20 League Following Favoritism Talks in Asia Cup Selection

Rinku Singh, ahead of the 2025 Asia Cup, announced his return to form with a hundred in the UP T20 League. (via Hindustan Times)

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Rinku Singh‘s inclusion in India’s 2025 Asia Cup squad has been a subject of debate, but the 27-year-old recently responded to his critics with a stunning performance in the Uttar Pradesh T20 League. Playing for the Meerut Mavericks, Singh scored his first-ever T20 century, against the Gorakhpur Lions.

Kolkata Knight Riders star Rinku Singh was chosen in the squad, despite his recent T20I form hitting a rough patch since the 2024 series against Bangladesh. To date, Singh has played 33 T20Is for India, amassing 546 runs at an impressive average of 42.00, including three fifties from a lower-order batting position, typically below number five. He has also played two ODIs, scoring a total of 55 runs, both against South Africa.

After his international debut in August 2023, Rinku had a stellar run for several months. He scored 479 runs in 19 innings with an average of 59.87 and a strike rate over 175. His highlight came in a T20I match against Afghanistan in January 2024, where he and captain Rohit Sharma forged a record 190-run stand. Fans were left disappointed when Singh was surprisingly not included in the 2024 T20 World Cup squad and was only named as a traveling reserve.

Rinku Singh’s form has however declined, since October 2024. His has only managed 67 runs in seven T20Is at a poor average of 13.40. In the IPL, Rinku has also had a difficult run, scoring under 250 runs in both the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Regarding his 2025 Asia Cup selection, claims emerged that it was influenced by BCCI executive president Rajeev Shukla due to their shared state and political connections.

Seemingly unaffected by the criticism, the 27-year-old has now justified his selection with a stunning century in the UP T20 League. He scored a blistering 108 runs off just 48 balls against the Gorakhpur Lions, guiding his team to a thrilling six-wicket win while chasing a target of 168 at Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium. Mavericks’ chase got off to a difficult start, and they found themselves in a disastrous position at 38 for four after the first eight overs.

With his team in trouble, captain Rinku Singh then took charge, forging an unbeaten 130-run partnership off just 65 balls with Sahab Yuvraj, leading Meerut to victory in just 18.5 overs. The KKR star showcased his finishing skills and brilliant shot-making, hitting seven fours and eight sixes in his unbeaten innings. Notably, five of those sixes came off the last six balls he faced during the chase, at a strike rate of 225.

Despite his heroic performance in the UP T20 League, it’s unlikely that Rinku Singh will immediately secure a spot in India’s playing XI for the upcoming Asia Cup. However, his century sends a powerful message to head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav. 

Ajinkya Rahane’s Predicts India’s Asia Cup Playing XI; No Place for KKR Teammate Rinku Singh 

Veteran Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane predicted his ideal playing XI for India at the upcoming 2025 Asia Cup, forecasting a strong performance for the team. Notably, Rahane made the surprising decision to leave out his KKR teammate, the prominent finisher Rinku Singh.

Ajinkya Rahane predicted XI Rinku Singh
Ajinkya Rahane predicted XI for India at the 2025 Asia Cup had no place for Rinku Singh or Sanju Samson. (via News 18)

Rahane’s predicted batting lineup features Shubman Gill, opening alongside Abhishek Sharma, leaving regular T20I opener Sanju Samson on the bench. He filled the remaining top-order spots with Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya. To handle the finishing and wicket-keeping duties, Rahane chose Jitesh Sharma at no. six and included Axar Patel at no. seven, which left no room for Rinku Singh.

For the bowling attack, Rahane picked Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Kuldeep Yadav. He noted that the final spot in the playing XI should be a choice between Varun Chakravarthy and Harshit Rana, with the final decision depending on the conditions.

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