Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has expressed sympathy for Rinku Singh after the young batter was left out of India’s squad for the upcoming T20 series against South Africa. Rinku, who only months ago struck the winning runs in the Asia Cup final against Pakistan, now finds himself sidelined despite his calm finishing ability and consistent performances. Even during the recent tour of Australia, he was selected but got just one match, which was washed out before he could bat, leaving him without a chance to prove himself.
For the South Africa series, Washington Sundar has been picked instead, signalling head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav’s preference for greater all-round depth. Pathan believes Rinku’s omission is directly tied to Hardik Pandya’s return from injury, suggesting that the team management sees Hardik’s presence as essential to the balance of the squad. According to him, Rinku was simply the unlucky one to make way.
Pathan remarked that the squad chosen for the South Africa series is likely to remain largely unchanged for the 2026 T20 World Cup, estimating that around 90 to 95 percent of the eventual World Cup team is already identifiable. He added that once Hardik was fit, it became almost certain that Rinku would struggle to retain a spot.
Discussing India’s overall T20 plans, Pathan said the team still needs clarity on the combination of pace bowlers, all-rounders and spinners. He highlighted names such as Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy as potential core players. Among them, Pathan believes Hardik will carry the most responsibility, calling him the single most crucial figure for India’s T20 World Cup campaign. He emphasised that India’s success may depend heavily on Hardik’s performance and the contribution of the finisher who partners him in the lower order.
Rinku’s exclusion has sparked debate among fans, but for now, the team management appears to have prioritised versatility and balance as India begins shaping its World Cup roadmap.
