Rinku Singh and other youngsters likely to be considered for T20I series against Ireland - Reports

Jitesh Sharma, Rinku Singh, Ruturaj Gaikwad (Source: Twitter)

The omission of Rinku Singh and Ruturaj Gaikwad from the Indian squad for the tour of the West Indies opened floodgates of criticism against the selection committee on social media. However, India's rising stars are likely to be rewarded for their outstanding performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 during the three-match T20I series against Ireland.

Following the appointment of Ajit Agarkar as head of selectors, the Indian Cricket Board named a 15-member team for the five-match T20I series against the Windies, which begins on August 3. Players like Tilak Varma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Mukesh Kumar got their maiden T20I call-ups, but Rinku and Gaikwad's names were missing from the list despite shining in the cash-rich league.

According to the Indian Express, a board official confirmed that players who were not picked for the Caribbean tour will be named in the squad for the Ireland series next month. The decision was made keeping in mind not try all new players against the two-time champions.

“Rinku and other players who did well in the IPL will fly to Ireland as the selection committee doesn’t want to try everyone at one stage. There are seven players of the Indian ODI team who are not going to play T20 as those players are key for us going ahead as they will be playing Asia Cup in late August,” the source told the Indian Express.

Rinku's batting exploits for KKR make him the frontrunner

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) finisher Rinku had a tremendous outing in the IPL 2023, prompting former cricketers and experts to suggest his name for inclusion in the Indian squad. The 25-year-old played several heroic knocks, and his spectacular finish against Gujarat Titans with five sixes in the last over alone demonstrates his brilliance. The Southpaw finished the season with 474 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 149.53.

Apart from Rinku and Gaikwad, some other youngsters have excelled in the 16th edition of IPL and are waiting for their chance in the Indian team. Punjab Kings' wicketkeeper batter Jitesh Sharma, and Gujarat Titans' middle order batter Sai Sudharsan, who played a stunning knock in the final, are also likely to earn their maiden call-ups during the Ireland series.