Former batter Mohammad Kaif has reflected on young Indian batter Rinku Singh’s exclusion from the T20I squad against South Africa. India is set to host the Proteas for a five-match series starting Tuesday, December 9.
Rinku Singh was not named in the 15-man squad. Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya returned to the team after his left quadriceps injury, and Rinku had to give up his place. Mohammad Kaif said no other player could have been left out. Notably, Rinku was part of the 2025 Asian Cup squad but did not play throughout and only appeared in the final.
While Kaif felt that Rinku would find it unfair that he was left out, he defended the selectors in the matter.
“There is no one you could have eliminated with Hardik coming back. Sanju Samson in India during the World Cup will be strong. Jitesh has come in now. Even in the Asia Cup, Rinku didn’t play every match. He wasn’t in your XI anyway. The bowlers are doing well. There are a lot of all-rounders. There was only one player who could have made way for Hardik, and that was Rinku. He there is no other reason. Rinku may think it is unfair, but I am on the side of the selectors here.
However, Kaif believed that Rinku would pay all formats soon. He predicted that the slugger would be an all-format player for the national team in two years.
“Rinku’s time will come. Trust me, he will be an all-format player for India in the future. You will see him playing all formats in two years.”
Rinku made his international debut in 2023. The 28-year-old has played two ODIs and 35 T20Is so far.
Hardik Pandya’s form ahead of India return
Hardik Pandya missed the 2025 Asia Cup final. He was not part of the Australia tour or the ODIs in South Africa. However, the all-rounder has regained his fitness and is expected to return in India colors in the T20Is against the Proteas.
Hardik played a few matches for Baroda in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025-26. He smashed an unbeaten 42-ball 77 against Punjab, scoring at a strike rate of 183.33 with seven boundaries and four maximums. In the two matches, he also took a few wickets.
The Men in Blue will want Hardik to do well in the T20Is and maintain his form until the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Edited by Rishab Vm
