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Names of in-form batters Rajat Patidar and Sarfaraz Khan are being talked about as viable options, while seasoned pros Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane have also been mentioned.
But former India opener Aakash Chopra has floated a name that hasn’t yet been looked at beyond the white-ball formats. That’s Rinku Singh.
The left-handed batter has proven his credentials in limited-overs formats, but Chopra highlighted Rinku’s success in First Class cricket and feels there would be no harm to include his name as one of the potential candidates to replace the unavailable Kohli.
“What about Rinku Singh? He was kept with the team in South Africa. He is not a one-trick pony. Check his first-class numbers, and he is not just a white-ball or T20 player. He doesn’t make himself unavailable for first-class cricket,” said Chopra in a video on his YouTube channel.
In 44 First Class matches so far, the Uttar Pradesh batter has scored 3109 runs at an impressive average of 57.57, which includes seven centuries and 20 fifties, with a highest of 163 not out.
“He has an average of over 50 and has been playing for many years. So why not Rinku Singh? Very tempting option,” Chopra said.
Interestingly, Rinku has been included in the India ‘A’ squad for the second four-day match against England Lions in Ahmedabad, commencing on January 25.
Rinku has featured in two ODIs and 15 T20Is so far in his nascent India career.
As far as Patidar and Sarfaraz are concerned, the former was prolific in his outing against the England Lions recently and the four-day tour game, while Sarfaraz’s consistent run-scoring can lead to his inclusion. But the BCCI selectors possibly may not look beyond the seasoned Pujara, especially after his recent double century in the Ranji Trophy, or maybe think of bringing back Rahane.
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