The Duleep Trophy is set to kick off from September 5 and will mark its end on September 19. This year’s edition will include four teams: India A, India B, India C and India D. Several Indian national team players will be part of these squads, featuring stars like Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer. While most of the notable India players, barring few senior players, will feature in the Duleep Trophy, the exclusion of batter Rinku Singh from the squad has surprised many fans.
Despite the selectors choosing 60 players for the tournament, Rinku Singh still couldn't find a place in any of the squads. The left-handed batter has expressed his disappointment at being overlooked and explained the reasons behind his absence. As a key player in the T20I squad, Rinku’s omission from the recently announced squad by the men's selection committee, chaired by Ajit Agarkar, comes as a surprise for many.
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Rinku Singh Admits Poor Form Led To Duleep Trophy Exclusion
Speaking to Sportstak, Rinku Singh explained his absence from the Duleep Trophy squad, citing his underperformance and limited appearances in the Ranji Trophy as reasons.
"Nothing...I didn't perform that well (in the domestic season). 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," Kolkata Knight Rider batter, Rinku said.
Rinku Singh has played 47 first-class matches, scoring 3,173 runs at an impressive average of 71.59. His record includes 20 half-centuries and seven centuries.
Historically, the Duleep Trophy has been contested in a zonal format across six regions of India, offering a stage for red-ball talent to shine. However, this year, the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to move away from the traditional six-team zonal structure. The tournament will now feature four teams: India A, India B, India C and India D.