Rinku Singh Admits Why He Is Not In Duleep Trophy

Rinku Singh, the rising star known for his stellar performances in IPL 2023 and subsequent white-ball matches for India, recently addressed his surprising omission from the upcoming Duleep Trophy. Despite his popularity and notable contributions to limited-overs cricket, Rinku was not among the 60 players selected for the prestigious domestic tournament, leaving fans and experts puzzled.

In a candid conversation with *Sportstak*, Rinku shed light on the reasons behind his exclusion. He acknowledged that his underwhelming performance in the domestic season, particularly in the Ranji Trophy, played a key role in the decision. "I didn't perform that well. I didn't play many matches in the Ranji Trophy...I played 2-3 matches. I wasn't selected because I didn't play that well. I might get selected for next-round matches," Rinku said.

While Rinku’s IPL heroics have made him a household name, his limited opportunities and impact in red-ball cricket likely influenced the selectors' decision. In his first-class career, Rinku has played 47 matches, amassing 3,173 runs at an average strike rate of 71.59, with seven centuries and 20 half-centuries.

This year’s Duleep Trophy is set to feature several top Indian stars, including Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Mohammed Siraj. Even Suryakumar Yadav, who played a single Test match against Australia in 2023, secured a spot in the competition. Meanwhile, senior players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and R. Ashwin were granted exemptions from participating.

Rinku’s candid admission shows his understanding of the situation and his determination to work on his game to earn future opportunities. While he missed out this time, his potential and performances in limited-overs cricket suggest that he will be closely watched for future selections.