Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar expects Rinku Singh to be a mainstay in the Indian team after the conclusion of the upcoming Indian Premier League. Rinku Singh scored 474 runs in 14 matches of IPL 2023 at an average of 59.23 and a strike rate of 149.53. Singh has been in fine form in the recent past and he will hold the key for KKR.
The left-hander has scored 725 runs in 31 IPL matches at an average of 36.25 and a strike rate of 142.16. The southpaw has scored 356 runs in 11 T20I innings at an impressive average of 89 and a blistering strike rate of 176.24.
Sanjay Manjrekar said on ESPN Cricinfo, “I know he is already in the Indian team, but there’s so much competition now. There’s a long queue of batters wanting to get in. But Rinku Singh will be one guy that I think his name will be written in bold font.”
On the other hand, Manjrekar feels Sunrisers Hyderabad might struggle to pick their overseas combination as they have players like Glenn Phillips, Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen, Pat Cummins, Aiden Markram, Marco Jansen and Wanindu Hasaranga.
When asked to pick the strongest overseas contingent, Manjrekar said, “Easily Sunrisers Hyderabad, because they just have too many foreign players. I don’t know what they were doing in the auction, because there are just high-quality foreign players. In fact, they should make a request, ‘Can we play seven?’”
Meanwhile, former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer feels it would be foolish to rule out Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from T20 World Cup plans.
“I think the old guard (will prove that they’ve still got it) because it’s foolish to rule Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli out so soon.”
The former domestic giant wants the IPL to let go of the impact player rule.
“I personally would like the impact player rule to go. That’s probably the change I would like to see.”
KKR will begin their campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on March 23.
