Former India player Mohammad Kaif has said that questions will be raised as to why Rinku Singh was not considered Washington Sundar’s replacement. He also sustained a rib injury during the first ODI against New Zealand in Vadodara on January 11, and he was ruled out of the remaining two matches as well.
Speaking on this during a discussion on his YouTube channel, he said, “Look, Parag bats higher up the order. I do not see Parag batting at number seven or eight. Yes, Rinku Singh plays that role. If there is a need to hit a couple of sixes in the last overs, that is the role he has been performing consistently. That has always been his role. He fits perfectly into the same slot that Washington Sundar used to occupy in this team. Rinku Singh is a like-for-like fit in that position. He has experience, he is an experienced player, has been playing the IPL for many years, has been playing white-ball cricket, and has been travelling with the Indian team as part of the squad.”
“He is a like-for-like replacement and can also bowl a little, two or three overs. So I am not including Parag here. For me, it is Rinku Singh versus Ayush Badoni. You asked a very valid question that Rinku also plays a similar role. Badoni is also a number six or seven finisher, but Rinku Singh is a proven finisher. So there will definitely be a question as to why Rinku Singh’s name did not come up,” he further added.
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“Because if two, three, or even four overs need to be bowled, he can manage that as well, even up to four or five overs. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy in Uttar Pradesh and earlier in the T20s, he has been bowling. He was the captain there and bowled three, four, or five overs in every match. So this will definitely raise a question as to why Rinku Singh’s name was not considered,” he shared again.
During the same discussion, Mohammad Kaif also added that the conditions in Rajkot will suit the batters as well.
“Here, the ball comes onto the bat quite nicely. Fast bowlers do not get much assistance. I see the spinners having a big role, especially Kuldeep’s role in this match. Whenever the wicket is absolutely flat, with no turn for spinners and no seam movement for the fast bowlers, that is where Kuldeep Yadav comes into play. You will see that in Rajkot, where the conditions are dry and there is not much wind, making it less suitable for fast bowling,” he added.
“I feel the pitch will be slightly slow. There will not be much ball movement, and the conditions will be very favorable for batting. That is why, when no other bowler is effective, the entire responsibility falls on the India’s left-arm chinaman. He is that kind of bowler; whether it is a flat pitch or a green pitch, he can deliver. Although the last game didn’t go too well for him, you can allow him one or two off games. He has been playing for so many years and performing well consistently, so one off match here and there is acceptable. You can depend on him. Kuldeep will have a very important role in the middle overs in tomorrow’s match,” Mohammad Kaif concluded.
