The Indian cricket team's selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, has come under fire for their choices for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup. Former Indian pacers Irfan Pathan and Varun Aaron have criticized the omission of in-form batsman Rinku Singh from the 15-member squad.
Rinku Singh, a left-handed batsman, has impressed in his limited opportunities for India, contributing to victories. However, the selectors opted for experienced all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube over the young talent.
Another point of contention is the inclusion of four spinners in the squad. While Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal are designated spinners, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel are classified as all-rounders, their bowling heavily reliant on spin.
Speaking on Star Sports, Varun Aaron expressed his surprise at the selection: "I haven't seen a team with four spinners. You can say that two are all-rounders but still they are spinning all-rounders. The selectors should have gone with three tweakers to include Rinku in the 15-member team."
Irfan Pathan echoed Aaron's sentiment. He pointed out the selectors' previous statements about prioritizing youth after India's semi-final defeat in the 2022 T20 World Cup, suggesting a change in course: "After losing the semi-final in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022, the selectors said that they would prefer young players. However, they have taken a U-turn."
Rinku Singh's exclusion and the abundance of spinners have sparked debate among fans and pundits alike. Only time will tell if the selection committee's choices will lead India to T20 World Cup glory.