Former England all-rounders Moeen Ali and Ravi Bopara suggested there was “a hint” of patronisation when India handed the ball to part-timer Rinku Singh during the high-voltage India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 clash at the R Premadasa Stadium. The match — a one-sided 61-run win for India over Pakistan — produced plenty of talking points, and this tactical flourish sparked debate among pundits.

India used seven bowlers on the night, including part-timers Tilak Varma and Rinku, with the former entering when Pakistan were reeling at 78/6 and immediately picking up a wicket. Rinku, who had barely bowled in internationals before, was given the 17th over and conceded nine as India wrapped things up; a gesture some saw as a gentle nudge rather than pure necessity.

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On the podcast Beard Before Wicket, the hosts asked the two former England players whether the move was deliberate showmanship. MoeenAli  said, “I think there was a hint of taking the mickey,” and argued that India’s dominance made such moments possible. Bopara agreed: “Yeah, there would have been because they were so far ahead of the game.”

There’s a practical side to the captain’s call, too. The India skipper — Suryakumar Yadav — has used part-timers in lopsided matches before to keep fringe options match-ready. Granting overs to non-regulars is a low-risk way to test bench strength and maintain bowling variety if a situation arises later in the tournament.

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Context matters: on a tacky wicke,t India scored 175/7 and then tightened the screws to bowl Pakistan out for 114. The optics of a part-timer finishing the job against tailenders will always attract chatter — some read it as playful disrespect, others as smart captaincy and squad management. Either way, the episode underscored India’s depth and Pakistan’s uphill task on the night.