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Should Ashutosh Sharma's IPL Dominance Concern Indian Finisher Rinku Singh?

Bhargav Dixit

Ashutosh Sharma and Rinku Singh (Source: @IPL/X)Ashutosh Sharma and Rinku Singh (Source: @IPL/X)

If ICC (International Cricket Council) announce to implement the Impact Player rule in T20Is right away, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi Capitals batter Ashutosh Sharma could well be India’s first nominee under the same. While others are busy debating the rule, the 26-year-old player seems hell-bent on exploiting it to press a case for national selection.

In terms of his way of playing, Ashutosh is perhaps the perfect definition of a “finisher” in the shortest format. In terms of his treatment of bowlers, he’s the perfect definition of a “destroyer”. In terms of cricket matches, he’s the perfect definition of a “game-changer”.

Most Runs In First 10 IPL Innings Among Indians

If truth be told, not many have been able to achieve what Ashutosh has in his short career. For starters, only his DC teammate Jake Fraser-McGurk has scored more runs in the first 10 innings of an IPL career. That a large majority of Ashutosh’s runs have come down the order is the biggest testament to his potential.

Across his first 10 Indian Premier League innings (255 runs at an average of 36.42 and a strike rate of 177.08), Ashutosh appears to be on a mission to win and break hearts at the same time. While rookie players often hide behind pressure is such situations, Ashutosh takes a front-seat to knock oppositions for sixes, both literally and figuratively.

Playing a match-winning innings time and again is one thing – a great one at that - but playing a match-winning innings time and again when win predictors don’t give you a chance is stuff of dreams. It’s true that not all mind-blowing knocks from him for Punjab Kings last season had resulted in a victory but his rare skills have it in them to be a victory for Indian cricket.

Should Ashutosh Sharma Concern Rinku Singh?

In the long run, yes. Since one IPL season has it in it to change the dynamics of the Indian T20I squad, Uttar Pradesh and Kolkata Knight Riders batter Rinku Singh has no option than to do what he is known for, i.e., finishing innings successfully.

Barring the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Rinku’s 202 runs across 14 T20 innings since IPL 2024 have come at an average and strike rate of 20.20 and 137.41. Since his last T20 half-century, a splendid innings at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, all he has managed are 87 runs at 14.50 and 108.75 across seven innings.

On paper, the left-handed batter did well for Uttar Pradesh during SMAT 2024/25. However, if you delve beyond surface-level narratives, it isn’t very difficult to understand that Rinku didn’t stand tall on his reputation.

In such a case, Ashutosh’s form should definitely warrant Rinku’s attention. Notably, among T20 middle- and lower-order batters in the last five years, Ashutosh’s strike rate of 195.45 is the highest (min. 500 runs).

India’s designated finisher in the shortest format for the time being, Rinku would want to put on display similar knocks to ensure that his stint doesn’t finish when the selectors next announce India’s T20I squad. Considering how Ashutosh is playing at the moment, continuing to turn a blind eye towards someone who strikes at 100+ across formats isn’t going to be easy.