An average of 59.30 and still overlooked: The cracks behind Rinku Singh’s red-ball numbers

Rinku Singh. [Source - AFP Photos]

Rinku Singh’s red-ball dominance has become impossible to ignore, yet India’s Test radar still barely gives a glance towards him. He keeps hammering attacks, shattering doubts, and redefining consistency, but the selectors remain unmoved. His exclusion now raises uncomfortable questions the cricket establishment cannot keep dodging any longer.

However, there is still a calmer argument to consider. India’s Test setup is crowded, competition fierce, and long-term plans guide choices. Yet should not everyone get a fair chance, something Rinku seems to have been clearly denied at times? Let’s dig deeper.

Rinku Singh’s stellar red-ball numbers are very hard to ignore

Rinku Singh has been a consistent pillar for Uttar Pradesh in red-ball cricket, delivering season after season as a dependable middle-order batsman. With UP’s top order often volatile, he has repeatedly stabilized innings, converting difficult starts into significant scores, proving himself a clutch performer who thrives under pressure and anchors the team reliably.

Rinku Singh for UP. [Source - @knightsvibe/x.com]

Table - Rinku Singh first-class record

Coming to the ongoing 2025-26 season of Ranji Trophy, Rinku continues to shine, scoring back-to-back centuries, first against Andhra and most recently against Tamil Nadu, registering his career-best first-class score of 176. These performances raise serious questions about why a player of his caliber is not even part of India’s red-ball discussions, let alone in contention for the Test side.

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Players with inferior records playing Tests while Rinku Singh waits

It is quite notable that several recent Test debutants highlight the puzzling nature of Rinku Singh’s exclusion. Players like Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, and Sai Sudharsan have earned national opportunities despite having significantly played fewer first-class matches and no Ranji Trophy record as impressive as Rinku’s consistent performances over multiple seasons.

Table - Records of mentioned players in Ranji Trophy so far.

While Rinku Singh has amassed runs season after season, averaging a whopping 65.92 for Uttar Pradesh, these newcomers have secured Test spots with limited red-ball credentials for their respective states. The contrast raises questions about selection priorities. 

What if we examine deeper and discover that behind these impressive numbers, there is more to the story?

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Rinku’s record shines, but there is a reason behind his omission

We are all for Rinku’s first-class record and his average close to 60 now, but a closer look reveals cracks. 

Table: Rinku Singh first-class record outside Ranji Trophy

• Between 2022-24, he played in Duleep Trophy and managed just one half-century in seven innings across three editions, failing to deliver the big knocks needed to push his name further.
• In addition, he did get a chance to play for India A in 2024 against England Lions, where across three innings, Rinku scored two ducks and a 38 for India A in that series. 

Meanwhile, players like Dhruv Jurel, Devdutt Padikkal, and Sai Sudharsan, who were fast-tracked, made the most of these opportunities over the past two years, impressing consistently and moving closer to Indian Test selection.

Moreover, the 2022-23 Ranji season marked Rinku's last consistent red-ball run, surpassing 500 runs for Uttar Pradesh. Since then, irregular appearances due to Indian white ball duties have disrupted Rinku's momentum, making it harder for him to grab the bigger opportunities when they arrive, leaving him lagged behind.

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