Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra reckons Rinku Singh will not make it to India’s playing XI at the Asia Cup 2025. After a sub-par IPL 2025 season, the Uttar Pradesh batter regained his touch in the UPT20 2025 league. Despite making it to the Indian squad for the eight-nation tournament, Chopra feels that Singh is unlikely to find a spot in the playing XI.
No Rinku Singh in India’s Asia Cup XI?
In a video on his YouTube channel, Chopra opined that Rinku will sit out of the playing XI as there was no place for him in the side at present. He said that Shivam Dube could play at number 7 if he gets a chance but it was highly unlikely as Hardik Pandya an Jitesh Sharma also need to be accommodated in the team.
“Rinku Singh, as a finisher, will be sitting out currently, and Shivam Dube will probably play at No. 7 if he gets a chance to play. Hardik Pandya and Jitesh Sharma are there. Where is the place?” Chopra said.
Earlier, chief selector Ajit Agarkar justified Rinku’s inclusion in the squad despite poor returns in IPL 2025. Agarkar revealed that Rinku was named as a reserve batter. The left-hander is not expected to be in the starting XI but could come in should the team management look got options.
“For now, we felt we needed an extra batter in Rinku. And you could only pick 15. If there were 16, maybe he could’ve been in,” Agarkar said in his press conference.
India squad for Asia Cup 2025
Surya Kumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (WK), Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh
Standby players: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel
