On return to India team, Rinku proves his worth

Rinku Singh wasn’t an automatic pick for the upcoming World Cup.

- Rasesh Mandani

He benefited from being part of a late pivot by the selectors that saw Shubman Gill going out of the squad for Sanju Samson. Ishan Kishan, who bats in the top order came in as a wicket-keeping backup, pushing Jitesh Sharma, the designated finisher out. Rinku over Jitesh, therefore, was more of a cause-effect selection.But on Wednesday night in Nagpur, the pocket dynamo from Aligarh showed why he should have perhaps always been part of Plan A.

Walking in at No 7 against New Zealand, Rinku scored 44 of India’s 72 runs in the final 6.2 overs. The others around him could manage only 28 (18b). The left-hander’s final flourish took New Zealand's target from difficult to very difficult territory. Often it becomes the decisive difference. So it was proved in Nagpur.