Aakash Chopra (Photo Source: X/Twitter)
As far as the first T20I between South Africa and India is concerned, it was a clinical performance by the hosts. With the bat, it was Sanju Samson’s power-packed ton which motored India to a total of 202. The spinners were the wreckers-in-chief for the visitors as they never let the Proteas from getting a foothold in the game. However, there was one talking point surrounding the victors, which was about Rinku Singh.
Former India cricketer, Aakash Chopra, in a recent discussion, questioned India’s choice of sending Rinku at No. 6. “Are we being fair to Rinku? It’s a very important question. Why am I asking this question? You kept him in the team first, he is your original choice player. He was in your team against Bangladesh and before that as well. Whenever you have sent him up the order or he has got to bat in the powerplay, he has scored runs every time,” stated Chopra in a video on his YouTube channel.
The cricketer-turned-commentator added that Rinku has risen to the occasion on most instances of him coming in at No. 4, which should have been reason enough for him to be sent higher up.
“He has scored a half-century every time. He has emerged as a crisis man. He scored those half-centuries at very good strike rates. So, this was that opportunity. Why don’t you send him at No. 4? What is the reason that you only send Rinku down the order, always at No. 6?” observed Chopra.
He is not just a finisher: Chopra
Chopra went on to explain why he thought Rinku was different from Hardik Pandya and Andre Russell.
“I am asking this question only because Rinku can finish but he is not just a finisher. This is my understanding. I feel he knows how to drive the game. He is hitting sixes but he is not someone who muscles the ball. He is not Andre Russell and he is not Hardik Pandya as well,” he noted.
Chopra recommended a swap in positions for Tilak Varma and Rinku for the remainder of the series.
“He tries to score runs with timing and then he makes the most of whatever he has. I feel you could have played him at No. 4 in Durban. In fact, you could have done that in this entire series and moved Tilak Varma down because someone has to go at No. 6,” he added.
Surprisingly enough, Rinku has been sent in at No. 4 only twice in the 20 innings he has played for. It will be interesting to see where the southpaw is slotted for the remaining three T20Is.