While Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) star Rinku Singh had a breakthrough season in the Indian Premier League (IPL) this year, he had failed to earn an India call-up despite his consistent performances in the cash-rich league. However, on Friday, the Uttar Pradesh cricket star Rinku did find his place in the Indian national team when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) named a second-string squad that would conpete in the Hangzhou Asian Games in China. Notably, with the senior players busy ahead of the ODI World Cup at home, it will be Ruturaj Gaikwad who will lead the side.



Meanwhile, not long after Rinku received a national call-up, he took to social media to share a post. In this picture, a Rinku in KKR jersey could be seen fist-bumping a Rinku in the trademark Indian blue jersey. The picture has the word "Finally" written on it.

Take a look at Rinku's social media post here:





Meanwhile, the squad also sees the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tilak Varma being included. Jites Sharma also features in the side after missing out from getting a call-up for the West Indies tour. Apart from the 15-member squad, the Indian cricket board has also named played five played on standby who would travel to China for the Asian Games, in case there is last-minute emergency like injury concerns to any one or more of these players.

These stand by players are Yash Thakur, Sai Kishore, Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Hooda and Sai Sudarsan. Interestingly, Shikhar Dhawan, the senior India batter whose name was doing the rounds on social media as the possible captain of the side that is picked for Asian Games 2023, does not even find a place in the side. The squad has given chances to youngsters to prove their talent.

India's squad for Asian Games 2023: Ruturaj Gaikwad (Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rahul Tripathi, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Washington Sundar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar, Shivam Mavi, Shivam Dube, Prabhsimran Singh (wicketkeeper)

Standby list of players: Yash Thakur, Sai Kishore, Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Sai Sudarsan