NEW DELHI: Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has raised a point of discussion regarding the treatment of Rinku Singh by Team India. Chopra questioned the team’s strategy of placing Rinku lower in the batting order. He suggested that instead of batting at number six, the left-handed batter should have been given the opportunity to bat at number four.
Chopra believes that Rinku wasn’t provided with the optimal platform to demonstrate his capabilities.
“Are we being fair to Rinku? It’s a very important question. Why am I asking this question? You kept him in the team first, he is your original choice player. He was in your team against Bangladesh and before that as well. Whenever you have sent him up the order or he has got to bat in the powerplay, he has scored runs every time,” Chopra remarked on his YouTube channel. Chopra emphasized that Rinku Singh has consistently performed well when given more overs to bat. He highlighted that the left-hander has emerged as a reliable player for India in critical situations, scoring crucial runs at a commendable strike rate.
“He has scored a half-century every time. He has emerged as a crisis man. He scored those half-centuries at very good strike rates. So this was that opportunity. Why don’t you send him at No. 4? What is the reason that you only send Rinku down the order, always at No. 6?,” Chopra added.
Rinku, having scored 490 runs at a strike rate of 173.14 in 20 T20I innings, remains a promising prospect for India.
Chopra proposed that Tilak Varma could have been shifted to the number six position. This adjustment would have allowed Rinku Singh to bat at number four, affording him more time to settle in and make a significant contribution.
“I feel you could have played him at No. 4 in Durban. In fact, you could have done that in this entire series and moved Tilak Varma down because someone has to go at No. 6,” he explained.
While acknowledging Rinku’s finishing abilities, Chopra pointed out that the 27-year-old doesn’t fit the mold of a typical power-hitter like Andre Russell or Hardik Pandya. He believes that Rinku Singh’s batting style, which prioritizes timing over sheer power, would be more effective if he were given a higher batting position.
“I am asking this question only because Rinku can finish but he is not just a finisher. This is my understanding. I feel he knows how to drive the game. He is hitting sixes but he is not someone who muscles the ball. He is not Andre Russell and he is not Hardik Pandya as well,” Chopra said.
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