State Favoritism? Rajeev Shukla Reportedly Is Behind Rinku Singh’s Selection in Asia Cup Squad Despite Poor Form

Rajeev Shukla was among the high-profile guests who attended Rinku Singh's engagement to Samajwadi Party politician Priya Saroj, earlier this year.

State Favoritism? Rajeev Shukla Reportedly Is Behind Rinku Singh’s Selection in Asia Cup Squad Despite Poor Form

BCCI's executive president Rajeev Shukla is said to have reportedly pushed for Rinku Singh's inclusion in India's 2025 Asia Cup squad. (via Mint)

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Recent reports have emerged over Rinku Singh’s selection in India’s 2025 Asia Cup squad, with a political dimension attached to it. It is claimed that Rajeev Shukla, BCCI’s executive president and a Rajya Sabha MP, influenced the 27-year-old’s inclusion despite his recent lack of form.

The 2025 Asia Cup has created a lot of excitement among Indian cricket fans, as the Indian team looks to defend the title they won in 2023. Earlier this week, the BCCI selection committee, led by former cricketer Ajit Agarkar, announced the 15-member squad that will travel to the UAE. The T20I squad, captained by Suryakumar Yadav, sees the return of several key players, including Shubman Gill and Jasprit Bumrah.

Since the squad was announced, a debate has erupted over the inclusion of several players who had a below-par 2025 IPL season, including Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana and Shivam Dube. Additionally, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee has been criticized for leaving out in-form players like Shreyas Iyer, who finished among the top run-scorers and also led Punjab Kings to their first IPL final in over a decade.

One of the more debatable selections is that of Rinku Singh, who was once considered India’s top finisher but has seen his stakes go down over the past year. The lower-order batter, known for his fearless hitting, has struggled both internationally and in the IPL. Singh gained prominence during the 2023 IPL season, where he scored an impressive 474 runs for KKR, averaging 59.25 with a strike rate of 149.53, and often won matches from seemingly impossible positions.

Rinku Singh enjoyed a fantastic run with the Indian T20I team until mid-2024, scoring 479 runs in 26 matches with a phenomenal strike rate of 175.45. However, he has struggled to find that form over the past year, and his performance in both the 2024 and 2025 IPL seasons was equally disappointing. Singh’s selection for the Asia Cup has raised questions, especially after Dainik Jagran journalist Abhishek Tripathi alleged that the 27-year-old was selected due to outside influence.

Tripathi made some shocking claims during a YouTube discussion, alleging that BCCI executive president Rajeev Shukla pushed the selection committee to choose Rinku Singh over other in-form players. Tripathi suggested that Shukla’s influence stemmed from their shared roots in Uttar Pradesh. His engagement to politician Priya Saroj, a Samajwadi Party MP, connecting him to the political sphere, may have played a role in his selection.

Where does Rinku [Singh] belong from? Uttar Pradesh. Where is the Executive President of BCCI currently [Rajeev Shukla]? Uttar Pradesh.

In a recent interview, Rinku Singh thanked Rajeev Shukla for his help in successfully organizing the UP T20 League, underscoring their close relationship. Nonetheless, Singh does faces tough competition for a spot in the playing XI at the 2025 Asia Cup, while aiming to make a strong comeback.

Rinku Singh Leads Meerut Mavericks in Third Season of the Uttar Pradesh T20 League 

Before heading to the UAE for the 2025 Asia Cup, Rinku Singh is captaining Meerut Mavericks, in the 2025 Uttar Pradesh T20 League. The Mavericks, who won the 2024 season by defeating the Kanpur Superstars in the final, are currently competing in the league’s third season.

Rinku Singh UP T20 League
Rinku Singh is currently leading Meerut Mavericks in the 2025 UP T20 League. (via One Cricket)

So far in the ongoing 2025 season, the Mavericks have a record of one win and one loss. Their victory came in the season opener against Kanpur, where Madhav Kaushik‘s superb 95 runs off 31 balls helped them set a target of 226. However, in their second match, the Mavericks were defeated by five wickets by the Lucknow Falcons, who successfully chased down the 151-run target with nine balls to spare.

Rinku Singh has only had one turn at bat in the two matches, where he scored 23 runs off 19 balls against Lucknow. The KKR star has also showcased his bowling skills in the league, taking a wicket with his right-arm off-break during the season opener against Kanpur.

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