Rinku Singh's T20 WC dream over? Stastistical data reveals why India snubbed him for SA series

Analysing why India snubbed Rinku from T20I setup [Source: AFP Photo]

The Indian team for the South Africa T20Is was announced on Wednesday with the selectors picking a strong team for an intense series. The core of the team was retained, but the biggest surprise was the omission of Rinku Singh. The star finisher was snubbed as India went ahead with a plethora of all-rounders.

The management of Gautam Gambhir and his support staff has been to incorporate more all-rounders in the team, and hence, Rinku, of all the batters was neglected and his chances of representing India in the T20 World Cup 2026 looks bleak at the moment. Reports have circulated that Rinku could have been granted a leave due to his marriage, but is this the reality?. Or his underwhelming stats have played a part in his omission?.

Rinku Singh's T20I stats in 2025

(Rinku Singh T20I stats in 2025)

• This year in T20Is, the KKR and India batter has struggled for runs, and the numbers tell the entire story. In five games, he has accumulated only 43 runs, and the strike rate is underwhelming as well (130). 
• His T20I numbers have dipped since last year, as Rinku amassed 245 runs in 2024 and had a strike rate of 151.23. This year, however, the stats have gone down, and so has the scoring rate.
• India have played 17 T20Is this year, and Rinku has played only five of them, and it showcases India’s lpack of trust in his batting ability.

Gambhir's love for all-rounders played a part in Rinku's exit?

• Gautam Gambhir loves all-rounders and there is no denying that he believes in having a batting depth, and incorporates a plethora of all-rounders in the playing XI to win matches. So, could this be a reason for Rinku’s exclusion from the T20Is?.
• Currently in the T20I setup, India has picked four all-rounders - Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, and Axar Patel. Interestingly, the at-least three of the four mentioned names will play in the middle-order, and that leaves no place for Rinku Singh.
• With so many all-rounders already in the XI, the selectors have given a roadmap for Team India ahead of the T20 World Cup, and this probably doesn’t include Rinku in the team.

Finishers already ready for T20 World Cup

• In Jitesh Sharma, and Hardik Pandya, the Indian side has two of the best finishers in the squad, and hence, there is no room for a third finisher.
• With Gill-Abhishek opening, Tilak Varma at 3, captain Suryakumar at 4, Shivam Dube at 5, and Jitesh, Hardik at 6, and 7 sorted, there is no room to incorporate another batter, and with Axar Patel to follow as well, India has a strong batting depth in the T20Is. 

(Hardik as finisher in T20Is)

• India has a newcomer, Jitesh, in the ranks as a finisher, and they also have one of the best in the business, Hardik Pandya, in their ranks. The batter strikes at 172 in the death overs, and combine it with Jitesh’s firepower, the finishing problem is sorted, and hence, Rinku was snubbed.

Conclusion

Despite being an elite IPL star, Rinku Singh has struggled to replicate the same form in T20Is this year, and as a result was dropped from the T20Is. With Hardik Pandya back and finishers’ role sorted, there was no need for Rinku in the team, and this could be the roadmap India takes before the T20 World Cup next year.

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