Anticipation is building for the Asia Cup 2025, set to begin on September 9th. Discussions surrounding the Indian team are already underway. Questions abound regarding player selection, with the BCCI’s chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, and his panel set to announce the team soon. A significant report has emerged concerning Kolkata Knight Riders’ star finisher, Rinku Singh, who was retained by the franchise for 13 crore rupees. There are concerns that Singh’s place in the Asia Cup 2025 India squad is in jeopardy.
Singh’s performance for India has been commendable. The Asia Cup 2025 will be played in the T20 format, where Singh has shown considerable skill. In 33 matches, he has scored 546 runs at an average of 42, including three half-centuries, with a best score of 69 not out. He has excelled as a finisher for both the Kolkata Knight Riders and India. Despite this, reports suggest he might not be included in the Asia Cup 2025 team.
Several young players have performed well in this format recently, with many impressing in the Indian Premier League 2025. Singh’s experience in international T20 cricket is an asset, and the team management might be hesitant to replace him as the finisher.
One former selector mentioned that Shubman Gill is likely to be in the Asia Cup 2025 team due to his role as Test team captain and captaincy for Gujarat Titans in the IPL. The question arises whether Gill will replace Singh. This decision will be challenging for the selectors, as Gill is a top-order batsman, while Singh is a finisher.
India has limited options for finishers. Besides Singh, Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel are viable alternatives. If Singh is excluded, the team will need to consider options like Shivam Dube or Jitesh Sharma to fill the finisher’s role.
Singh’s recent performance in the Indian Premier League 2025 was not as impressive. In 13 matches, he scored 206 runs at an average of 29.43, with a best score of 38 not out. His form was also subdued in the 2024 season, scoring only 168 runs in 15 matches for Kolkata, with a top score of 26. The Indian selectors face a crucial decision regarding Singh, a valuable player for the team.
