Image Credit- PTI
Rinku Singh was previously only included in the roster
for the third and final game of the series. However, he has now been added to
the India A squad for the second four-day encounter against the England Lions,
which is scheduled to take place in Ahmedabad starting on January 24.
Since making his T20I debut against Ireland in August
of last year, Rinku, 26, has had a hectic five months and more. Before
competing in the T20I series against Australia, South Africa, and Afghanistan,
he was a member of the team that won gold at the Asian Games in Hangzhou.
He played two matches in December of last year to mark
his ODI debut in South Africa. Prior to the second four-day match against South
Africa A in Benoni, he was also called up for the first time by India A, even
though he was not included in the playing XI. Instead, during the Boxing Day
Test at SuperSport Park in Centurion, Rinku was spotted in the Indian dugout
and making an appearance as a replacement fielder.
In 46 first-class games thus far, Rinku has amassed
3109 runs at an average of 57.57. The last time he played for Uttar Pradesh was
in their third-round Ranji Trophy encounter in Meerut, against Bihar. Due to
fog and poor light, only 115 overs could be played over the course of four days
when the match ended on January 22.
Although he has not yet played for India A, his
inclusion in the team coincides with the selectors’ consideration of a possible
successor for Virat Kohli, who withdrew from the first two Test matches against
England for personal reasons. Candidates include B Sai Sudharsan, Sarfaraz
Khan, Rajat Patidar, and Cheteshwar Pujara.