Former India player turned commentator Saba Karim has said that Rinku Singh’s inclusion in the Indian team’s 2026 T20 World Cup squad would have been an easy call for the selectors. He added that the middle-order batter’s absence from the Indian lineup after the 2025 Asia Cup was the biggest surprise as well.

During a discussion on Star Sports, Saba said, “It was extremely easy for the selectors. His name not coming in the team after the Asia Cup was the biggest surprise. He had not done anything wrong. He didn’t get chances in the Asia Cup. He got an opportunity in the final, and he scored the winning runs. After that, you didn’t pick him.”

“It would have been quite easy for the selectors. Once you had decided the opening slot, between Rinku Singh and Jitesh Sharma, who is the more formidable match-finisher? Then you always go with Rinku Singh. On top of that, why would you have another keeper in the 15 when you already have Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan?” Saba shared.

However, Saba Karim also added that India would need Rinku Singh as a finisher in the 2026 T20 World Cup as well.

“It’s good to see that Rinku Singh has returned to the team. I feel the Indian team will need him because that kind of temperament, a sort of habit, to finish matches is seen in very few players. It’s a kind of skill set. Rinku Singh has shown that kind of batting many times at every level. I feel the selectors made the absolutely right choice in bringing back Rinku Singh into the team. With Rinku Singh coming in, our lower-middle order will become stronger,” Saba Karim concluded.