rinku singh

Virat Kohli joins Indian team for T20 World Cup campaign | Cricket News

Danijones5 months ago04 mins

NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli, India’s top batsman, reached New York on Friday to join his team for the upcoming T20 World Cup. His arrival comes five days after the rest of the Indian squad landed in the city.However, there is still uncertainty surrounding Kohli’s participation in the warm-up match against Bangladesh, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday. “Virat Kohli has checked in at the team hotel and after a long flight, he would be taking rest,” a senior BCCI source confirmed his arrival.After a lengthy 16-hour journey to reach the ‘Big Apple’, Kohli’s involvement in the practice match will hinge on his personal inclination and readiness to face the Bangladesh team at the Nassau County Cricket Ground.With an impressive tally of 741 runs in 15 IPL matches, Kohli’s need for additional match practice is minimal. Moreover, he is scheduled to participate in three high-quality net sessions prior to the opening encounter against Ireland on June 5.Friday morning saw an optional training session, during which Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, and Mohammed Siraj put in the hard yards under the watchful eyes of the support staff.The team management and the BCCI have a history of granting special considerations to Kohli regarding his joining the national squad. In a previous instance, he was allowed a break before the South Africa Test series, arriving in the “Rainbow Nation” only to depart for the UK due to personal matters before eventually rejoining the team.Kohli prioritized family over cricket earlier this year when he opted out of the entire Test series against England at home to be present for the birth of his second child.As the Indian team prepares for the upcoming T20 World Cup, the players have been arriving in batches. The first group landed on May 25, while the second contingent reached on May 28.Although Kohli has been absent from three training sessions so far, the team management remains unconcerned. They acknowledge that the legend knows his stuff and his routines won’t be tinkered with, demonstrating their trust in Kohli’s ability to prepare himself adequately for the tournament.(With PTI inputs)

T20 World Cup: RP Singh explains how IPL Impact Player rule hampered Rinku’s prospects

Danijones5 months ago03 mins

Former India pacer Rudra Pratap Singh has explained how the IPL Impact Player rule has hampered Rinku Singh’s prospects of making it to the India squad for the T20 World Cup 2024. Rinku Singh’s omission from India’s 15-man T20 World Cup 2024 squad raised a lot of eyebrows. Rinku Singh’s amazing performance in IPL 2023 catapulted him into the spotlight and quickly made him a household name because of his talent. The KKR batter received his first India call following a great IPL season, and his strike rate stayed quite high. The Ajit Agarkar-led India selection panel chose to go with more recent performances, and selected Shivam Dube in the 15-member squad, while Rinku Singh will be on the reserve list. “Rinku Singh should have definitely been there. I think he was unfortunate to miss out. If the Impact Player rule was not there, I think Rinku would have made it,” RP Singh said during a promotional event where the Indian team’s jersey was unveiled for the inaugural World Championship of Legends. The 25-year-old Uttar Pradesh batter was in sensational touch for India in T20Is before IPL 2024. His ability to bat at different gears and execute the finisher’s role to perfection reminded fans of vintage MS Dhoni. Rinku averages 89 in his nascent T20I career, having scored 356 runs at a staggering strike rate of 176. Never has Rinku fluffed an opportunity in the Indian blue. Yet, the young man was left out of the squad and named in the reserves. Amid the great buzz surrounding his removal, Rinku Singh broke his silence and confessed that he was at first disappointed. The KKR batter agreed that his absence was more down to team dynamics than performance, and he emphasised that making the reserve list is also a significant accomplishment given where he comes from. Published By: Saurabh Kumar Published On: May 31, 2024 Tune In

Rohit Sharma trains ‘bowler’ Shivam Dube for T20 World Cup ahead of India vs Bangladesh warm-up game

Danijones5 months ago05 mins

India are slated to face Bangladesh at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Saturday in their only warm-up fixture ahead of their opener in the 2024 T20 World Cup, which is on June 5 against Ireland at the same venue. Ahead of the match, India hosted their final practice session with former captain Virat Kohli still absent, but significant aspects remained Rinku Singh’s batting and Shivam Dube’s lengthy chat with captain Rohit Sharma. India had their practice session on Friday ahead of the T20 World Cup warm-up game against Bangladesh Just like on Thursday, India had a three-hour-long practice session on Friday morning as well. Kohli was the only squad member missing, as the 35-year-old was en route to New York to join the Indian side. Kohli had reportedly extended his period of break after the end of his IPL 2024 campaign and, hence, was not part of the first batch of players that left for the World Cup. Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now! India started their training session with fielding drills, focusing on flat and high catches under the watchful eyes of fielding coach T Dilip. The focus then shifted to the batting nets, where Suryakumar Yadav spent a considerable time facing throwdowns. Rohit followed in next as he faced the likes of Khaleel Ahmed, Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Avesh Khan and Ravindra Jadeja, with the captain even practising the reverse sweep against the spinners. During his session, he was also seen having a lengthy chat with Dube about which areas or lengths to bowl, given that it was a drop-in pitch at the Cantiague Park in New York. According to the video released by Star Sports, Rohit can be seen animatedly explaining Dube about the lengths and the type of shots batters can attempt. Dube has been picked as an all-rounder in the Indian team despite getting limited opportunities with the ball in IPL 2024 as the Impact Player reduced his role to a mere middle-order batter. After bowling in the home series against Afghanistan earlier in January, Dube rolled hi arms for only an over in IPL 2024 for Chennai Super Kings, where he also picked a wicket. Unlike Thursday, when Yashasvi Jaiswal had a light training session owing to jet lag, the India opener had a proper session at the nets as he honed his cover drives and pull shots, while Hardik Pandya, once again, had a long batting stint while having regular conversations with batting coach Vikram Rathour throughout his session. Rathour was seen explaining to Hardik about his head position, stance and footwork. Rinku Singh in fluent touch The Kolkata Knight Riders batter may have missed the T20 World Cup squad cut with selectors opting for four spinners in the line-up, leaving Rinku in the reserves category, but the left-hander looked in fluent touch at the nets. According to journalist Vimal Kumar, Rinku looked in flair at the nets. With Kohli most likely to miss the warm-up game against Bangladesh, given that he will be joining the squad on Friday evening, and will be recovering from jet lag on Saturday, India might send Rinku to bat during the match.

Rinku Singh: T20 World Cup: Why India needed a Rinku-first policy | Cricket News

Danijones6 months ago07 mins

In a press conference explaining Team India‘s selection for the World Cup, BCCI‘s chief selector Ajit Agarkar said that Rinku Singh was “the toughest thing to discuss…it was all about the combination we wanted.” The chief selector meant that the committee did its best but it couldn’t find Rinku a place considering the big picture. It also came to light that captain Rohit Sharma wanted four spinners for the squad which had reduced the options for the selectors.A day later, former India captain and ex-BCCI president Sourav Ganguly shared a similar view.What’s clear from these statements is that the 26-year-old batter from Aligarh wasn’t thought of as an automatic selection. Rather, he was at best considered as the last possible player for the 15-member squad, and later consigned to the reserves. Here’s why such a thought process is erroneous. India won the T20 World Cup for the first and last time in 2007, the year before IPL arrived. In the seven editions, thereafter, it has entered the final only once (2014) and semifinal twice (2016 & 2022). England, West Indies, even Pakistan and Sri Lanka enjoy better records than India. A key reason behind these failures is the team’s inability to produce its best cricket in high pressure knock-out games in the World Cup. Most players considered essential by the selectors are the same blokes who have been unable to perform time and again in these matches. That’s why India needed a Rinku-first policy. Here was a journeyman who emerged from the shadows to capture national spotlight delivering wins from near-impossible situations in IPL 2023 and, of late, in T20Is to become India’s elusive 911 man. On recent international performance and making a comparative assessment of his temperament in tough situations with other so-called ‘undroppables’, his selection should have been the easiest, not the “toughest” decision to make. How many proven – not on paper — finishers in T20Is, especially in tough situations, does this team’s lower batting order have?Let’s walk the talk with hard statistics. Rinku has played 15 T20Is, batted in 11 innings, remained unbeaten in 7. Barring a couple of games, he made invaluable contributions improving the team’s situation in each of them. His strike rate is 176; average 89. No surprise former internationals such as Kris Srikkanth, Irfan Pathan and Ambati Rayudu have also spoken up over his non-inclusion. His freewheeling undefeated 37 off 14 balls gave India the edge in a crucial Asian Games tie against Nepal. Nepal scored 179/9 in the game; India won by just 23 runs, and in retrospect, Rinku’s input was critical.Against Australia in Thiruvananthapuram last November, Rinku blitzkrieged an unbeaten 31 off 9 deliveries. The innings underlined that he could move into fifth gear at a moment’s notice. In the same series, he smashed 46 off 29 balls, the highest score in the team with the second highest run rate. India won that game too. Then again, last December against South Africa in faraway Gqeberha, his unconquered 68 off 39 balls was the side’s highest score with the highest strike rate.In Bengaluru this January, in his last international game against Afghanistan, Rinku was outstanding in a tough situation. Coming in to bat with India 22/4, he produced in tandem with Rohit Sharma an unbeaten game-changing partnership of 190. It is surprising that Rohit, who scored an unbeaten 121 (off 69) in that nerve-jangling game, couldn’t place him among 15.In all these knocks as well as in IPL 2023, Rinku’s batting displayed calm, power and situational awareness. He found a way to outwit bowlers, mould his shotmaking to the situation.If Rinku’s recent IPL form was a reason for his omission, what about several other selected players whose form seems to be getting worse with every passing game? That aside, there’s a lack of consistency in selection logic. If Dube, who averages nearly 40 and has a strike rate of 145 in T20Is, was rewarded for his superlative IPL show, why isn’t medium pacer T Natarajan even in the reserves. His current IPL stats — wickets, economy rate, strike rate – as well as ball control and ability to bowl at the death is superior to the chosen ones.Team India may or may not perform well at the forthcoming World Cup beginning in June. But irrespective of the result, the omission of Rinku Singh will remain a case of grave injustice.

‘Rinku Singh is coming’: Shivam Dube shown no mercy after back-to-back golden ducks in IPL 2024 post T20WC selection

Danijones6 months ago04 mins

Shivam Dube was probably among the happiest last Tuesday when he made the cut to the 15-member India squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup squad on the back of his stellar show in the 2023 and ongoing 2024 editions of the Indian Premier League. However, over the next five days, Dube incurred back-to-back golden ducks for Chennai Super Kings, leaving fans worried as they sent the left-hander a ‘Rinku Singh’ warning. Shivam Dube registered back-to-back ducks in IPL 2024 in a space of five days Dube’s position in the T20 World Cup squad was never in doubt after a stunning show in the opening half of the IPL 2024 season, in addition to the back-to-back fifties he scored against Afghanistan in India’s last and final T20I home series before the World Cup earlier in January. He had also picked two wickets in the contest. Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now! Furthermore, India captain Rohit Sharma went a step ahead to even hint at Dube’s selection in the playing XI for India at the World Cup, purely owing to his power-hitting, although he also expects the CSK star to role his arms for a few overs. “We needed someone to come in middle overs and play that role. We picked Shivam Dube based on what he has done in IPL and a few games he played before IPL,” he said in a press conference held at BCCI headquarters in Mumbai on Thursday. “I will be expecting if we need Shivam to ball a few overs, he will. Same with Hardik, he has come and bowled whenever needed. All-rounders must do that whatever their role is.” However, since the big announcement on Tuesday, Dube incurred back-to-back dismissals for golden duck, both against Punjab Kings. He was undone by Harpreet Brar on May 1 in Chepauk and by Rahul Chahar on Sunday at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. The dismissals did not go down well with fans on social media who were quick to point out that a certain Rinku, who is part of the reserves list, is in waiting to make the main squad for the World Cup. Following Dube’s dismissal, Moeen Ali and Ravindra Jadeja did try to pull things back with the latter scoring 43, but CSK only managed to score 167 for nine in 20 overs. Rahul and Harshal Patel were the pick of the bowlers with both picking three wickets each.

Rohit Sharma’s hug to young Rinku Singh wins hearts following KKR’s victory – WATCH | Cricket News

Danijones6 months ago02 mins

NEW DELHI: Venkatesh Iyer’s impressive half-century outshone a similar effort from Suryakumar Yadav, as Mitchell Starc’s four-wicket haul helped Kolkata Knight Riders defeat Mumbai Indians by 24 runs in a low-scoring IPL 2024 match. This victory marked KKR’s first win at the Wankhede Stadium since 2012 and their second ever at the iconic venue.In a match that was largely dictated by bowlers, Iyer saved KKR from a challenging 57/5 with his gritty 70 off 52 balls, guiding them to a modest total of 169. In response, Starc’s four-wicket burst, coupled with the two wickets each from KKR’s spin duo Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy, secured a historic win for the two-time champions. Following the game, Mumbai Indians’ star batsman Rohit Sharma was seen giving a hug to KKR’s batting sensation Rinku Singh. Though Rinku did not make India’s main 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA, he has been named as a reserve player. India’s T20 World Cup journey kicks off against Ireland on June 5 at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.Mumbai Indians’ social media account shared a video capturing the moment of Rohit’s embrace after the match. Despite his impressive record of 356 runs at an average of 89 and a strike rate of 176.24 in T20Is for India, Rinku’s exclusion has sparked significant debate since the Indian team’s announcement and has created a stir on social media.

‘Leaving Rinku Singh out of T20 World Cup team toughest thing’: Apologetic Ajit Agarkar finds no fault in KKR batter | Crickit

Danijones6 months ago05 mins

BCCI chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar said leaving Rinku Singh out of India’s 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup was one of the toughest decisions. India announced their squad on Tuesday (April 30) for the world event slated to take place in the USA and West Indies in June this year. The squad has a good mix of youth experience, but the non-selection of Rinku, one of India’s top performers in T20Is in the lead-up to the IPL, became one of the biggest talking points. India’s Rinku Singh plays a shot(BCCI Twitter) The 26-year-old Aligarh left-hander, who captured the cricketing world’s imagination with five sixes in an over during the previous IPL, made way for Shivam Dube in the main national squad while his name ended up being among the reserves. Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now! Two days after naming the squad, Agarkar and captain Rohit Sharma answered queries from reporters in a press conference held in Mumbai. Agarkar said Rinku didn’t do anything wrong. The selectors couldn’t pick the dynamic left-hander in the final 15 as they wanted more bowling options. “(Not picking Rinku Singh) the toughest thing that we have to discuss. Rinku hasn’t done anything wrong, nor has Shubman Gill. It’s about the combinations. We are not quite sure about the conditions. So we wanted to have enough (bowling) options. We have picked a couple of wrist spinners, Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, to give Rohit more options. There’s Axar (Patel), a bowling all-rounder. It’s just unfortunate,” Agarkar said on Thursday. ‘Not Riku Singh’s fault that he has missed out’: Agarkar News agency PTI quoted a BCCI source privy to the developments in the selection meeting to claim that Rinku may have paid the price of the Impact Player rule in the IPL, which prevented him from having many opportunities with the bat in this IPL for his franchise Kolkata Knight Riders. The Impact Player rule has allowed every IPL franchise to field an extra batter when they are batting and replace him with a bowler later. As a result, Rinku, who has made a name for himself as a finisher, has played only 82 balls in 9 matches in IPL 2024, scoring 123 runs at a strike rate of 150. KKR have not needed his finishing skills in most of the matches this year as their openers, Phil Salt and Sunil Narine, have been doing the bulk of the scoring. Agarkar, however, said the decision to leave out Rinku had nothing to do with him. It was because of the combination the team management wanted to find the right balance in the USA and West Indies. “I don’t think it has anything to do with him. It’s not Rinku Singh’s fault that he has missed out. With two keepers who are both terrific batters, there’s already an extra batter sitting. So we thought of having an extra bowling option. Rinku is a travelling reserve; that’s how close he was, it’s a little tough on him but at the end of the day, you can only pick 15,” Agarkar said. India start their campaign in the T20 World Cup against Ireland on June 5.