Ahead of their crucial T20 World Cup Super Eights match against Zimbabwe on Thursday at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium, India has been dealt a serious selection dilemma, as batsman Rinku Singh has rushed home because of a family issue.
According to a PTI report, the development occurred two days prior to the match and it added that Rinku missed India’s first practice at Chepauk on Tuesday, while his teammates were at the nets.
“Rinku Singh has flown back home from Chennai due to a family emergency. He did not join India’s practice session at the Chepauk,” PTI quoted a source close to the development as saying.
At this point, it’s unclear whether or when he will return to the team for the duration of the competition. Rinku’s father, Khanchand Singh, is in critical condition and is being admitted to a hospital in Greater Noida, according to the report.
Rinku, who was added to the T20 World Cup team at the last minute, has not yet lived up to the hype. He was dismissed for a duck against South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium, and he has only managed 24 runs in five innings so far.
India may include Washington Sundar and Axar Patel if Rinku is unable to play in the match against Zimbabwe. In addition to providing skipper Suryakumar Yadav with a backup bowling option, that would maintain the batting depth. Against Zimbabwe, India can potentially adopt an attacking strategy and select wicket-taking spinner Kuldeep Yadav.
After losing to South Africa by 76 runs in their first Super 8 match—the biggest loss in World Cup history—India is already under fire. They are currently ranked third in Group 1, behind South Africa and the West Indies.
Therefore, in order to change their present net run rate of -3.8, India must not only defeat Zimbabwe but also win by a significant margin. In addition to defeating the West Indies in the March 1 Super 8 match in Kolkata, they must also hope that South Africa defeat the West Indies in their match on February 26 in Ahmedabad.
