Former Indian fast bowler RP Singh feels India doesn’t have an in-form batters to support Hardik Pandya while finishing the T20I innings in the Asia Cup. Singh highlighted that Rinku Singh and Shivam Dube’s international form is a worry for the team.
Singh was in good form in the UP T20 league while leading Meerut Mavericks as he scored 372 runs in nine innings at an average of 62 and a strike rate of 178.85, but RP said the UP batter was not at his best for India in the last five games. Furthermore, he had a mixed IPL 2025 with the Kolkata Knight Riders, managing 206 runs in 11 innings.
RP Singh said on his YouTube Channel, “(Weakness) The strike rate that Hardik Pandya plays, the players around him, it’s not like they haven’t performed. Rinku Singh has performed, but his recent form for India isn’t good (67 runs in five innings). Even in the IPL, I think KKR didn’t use him properly. He played in the UPT20 League and performed there (372 runs in 11 innings), batting at No. 4 and 5. But his India performance hasn’t been effective.”
Meanwhile, Shivam Dube scored 357 runs in 14 matches of IPL 2025 for Chennai Super Kings. Dube has scored 122 runs in four T20Is since the T20 World Cup 2024.
“After that, Shivam Dube, left-handed batter, also has the firepower, but his recent form has been worrying. There is no batter in the middle order who can bat at the same strike rate as Hardik Pandya,” he added.
The former left-arm Indian pacer said Rinku Singh will have a golden opportunity to finish games in the Asia Cup but said the southpaw’s batting position is tricky.
He added, “Rinku Singh also has a great opportunity because his performance in the IPL wasn’t promising, and I’ve explained that KKR didn’t use him well in my view. And when he was part of the team last time around, there wasn’t an impactful performance. We know Rinku for his ability to finish matches. Take time and finish matches.”
“The spot is very tricky where Rinku Singh bats. If you score, you’re seen. Scoring big at that spot is very low. If you get out early, it’s also noticed if the Indian team fails to win. It’s a tricky position, but Rinku has played there for some time and done well, so I believe that he will make the most of the opportunities and cement his place in the Indian team,” RP Singh added.
The Men in Blue will begin their campaign against the UAE on September 10 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
