Rinku Singh’s endeavour to establish himself in the Indian cricket team was interrupted by the unexpected decision to exclude him from the T20 World Cup 2024 squad. Competing at only age 26, the left-handed batsman had always already illuminated the scene with his performances, having his debut for India in a T20I game against Ireland. His exclusion from the 15-member team was a surprising turn of events, not only for the fans but also for Rinku who had been one of the leading candidates in the run-up to the tournament.

The choice made by the BCCI selectors is still confusing to many, especially because of Rinku’s good form. Rinku’s face was that of a dejected man as he had aspiration of representing his country on one of cricket’s biggest stages.

Nevertheless, Rinku Singh found refuge and inspiration from Indian captain Rohit Sharma, whose teachings helped the young cricketer to bring back his concentration. Rohit, reputed for his unassertive nature and leadership skills, always has time for younger players, and he told Rinku that he need not lose hope.

ALSO READ: Olly Stone Replaces Injured Mark Wood In England’s Test Squad

Recalling the conversation, Rinku Singh said, “Rohit stated, ‘Even though you are still young. There will be many more World Cups to come. Just persevere. Every two years there’s the World Cup, so you haven’t still finished your career.'”

At the same time, Rinku was becoming more curious and yearning for growth, these words from a mature captain like Rohit ensured him that some of the stresses of his career would be relieved. It serves as proof that Rohit is a leader worth looking up to, which is not just limited to his brainpower in the field but rather mentoring is very important as well.

Although, Rinku was not in the main squad he was present as one of the four travelling substitutes during the Indian tour of the West Indies and the USA. Although he was out of the picture in the T20 World Cup 2024, he was still able to celebrate the victory that brought him a notable amount of ₹1 crore, which was part of the ₹125 crore prize pool announced by the BCCI for the winning Indian team.

ALSO READ: James Anderson Praises Virat Kohli As The Ultimate ‘Chase Master’ in Cricket

Recalling his journey, Rinku applauded Rohit Sharma’s captaincy saying that his leadership style was a rare combination of calmness and the right strategy. In contrast, he was also filled with awe for Virat Kohli, who displayed a furious and passionate style that he felt brought to the captaincy. For Rinku, these two captains who have different yet complementary leadership styles hold different but essential lessons.