Wasim Jaffer questions Rinku Singh’s exclusion from India’s squad for Afghanistan T20Is
Former India batter Wasim Jaffer has questioned the decision to leave Rinku Singh out of India’s squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, arguing that the left-hander’s recent performances deserved stronger consideration.
India are scheduled to begin the series on September 13 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, with the remaining two matches set to follow as part of the three-game contest. Rinku, despite being part of India’s 2026 T20 World Cup-winning campaign, has once again found himself outside the national setup.
Jaffer believes the omission is particularly difficult to understand given the batter’s impressive form across different competitions.
Rinku Singh’s unmatched consistency
Speaking on his YouTube channel, the former India opener pointed to Rinku’s numbers in the 2026 Indian Premier League as evidence of his consistency. The 28-year-old accumulated 295 runs during the season, averaging 59.00 while striking at 148.98.
His form did not disappear after the IPL either. Rinku continued to make an impact in the Uttar Pradesh T20 League, where he amassed 169 runs in six innings at a remarkable strike rate of 219.48. The left-hander then joined his state teammates in the Duleep Trophy. Although the competition is played in the longer format, Rinku has still managed to make an impression, scoring 80 runs across two innings and registering a half-century. For Jaffer, those performances make Rinku’s latest omission particularly unfortunate.
“He has played very well in the IPL, and even recently, whether you talk about the Uttar Pradesh Premier League or the Duleep Trophy. Even though the latter is red-ball cricket,” Jaffer said.
Wasim Jaffer shares his verdict on Rinku Singh’s absence
Jaffer acknowledged that India’s selection committee faces a difficult balancing act when established players return from injuries or become available again. However, he believes Rinku has done enough whenever opportunities have come his way to remain in contention.
The former batter also highlighted the nature of Rinku’s role in the Indian side. Rather than occupying a conventional top-order position, Rinku is often expected to provide finishing power in pressure situations, making consistency in limited opportunities even more valuable.
“I feel Rinku Singh is unfortunate that he hasn’t been able to make his place in the team,” Jaffer added, suggesting that the batter’s exclusion appeared difficult to justify on form alone.
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Competition for places remains intense
Jaffer also admitted that India’s crowded batting department makes selection challenging. With several players returning and others pushing for opportunities, someone inevitably has to miss out. Still, he feels Rinku’s record should have kept him firmly in the conversation.
“I feel a little bad for Rinku Singh because it doesn’t seem like he has done much wrong. Whenever he has got an opportunity, he has always done well, and he plays in very critical positions,” added Jaffer.
Rinku’s latest omission will therefore raise fresh questions about his position in India’s T20 plans. With the Afghanistan series approaching, the spotlight will remain on the competition for middle-order and finishing roles, while Rinku will have to continue converting his domestic opportunities into compelling evidence for another international recall.
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