Rinku Singh, the promising cricketer who captured attention during IPL 2023 and subsequent international white-ball matches for India, has addressed his omission from the upcoming Duleep Trophy. This decision surprised many fans and cricket experts, given Rinku's strong limited-overs performances.
In an interview with *Sportstak*, Rinku candidly explained that his lack of selection was primarily due to his unsatisfactory performance in the domestic circuit, notably in the Ranji Trophy. He admitted, "I didn't perform that well. I didn't play many matches in the Ranji Trophy...I played 2-3 matches. I wasn't selected because I didn't play that well. I might get selected for next-round matches."
Despite his IPL successes elevating his profile, Rinku's limited exposure and impact in red-ball cricket have likely swayed the selectors' choices. Over his first-class career comprising 47 matches, he has scored 3,173 runs with a strike rate of 71.59, including seven centuries and 20 half-centuries.
The upcoming Duleep Trophy will showcase prominent Indian players like Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Mohammed Siraj. Additionally, Suryakumar Yadav, despite only one Test appearance in 2023, has secured a place. Meanwhile, high-profile stars such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and R. Ashwin have received exemptions from participation.
Rinku’s frank acknowledgement of his current performance level highlights his awareness and ambition to improve, indicating his readiness to seize future opportunities. While he missed this selection, his talent and demonstrated capability in limited-overs formats assure fans that he will remain a player to watch for upcoming selections.