Rinku Singh leaves Indian camp ahead of crucial match; All eyes on Sanju Samson

CHENNAI: Just hours after the Indian cricket team arrived in Chepauk in Chennai, middle-order batsman Rinku Singh left the camp to attend to a family emergency. It is reported that Rinku left the team on Tuesday but is likely to join back tomorrow.

Ahead of the must-win match, the team is undergoing a rigorous training session in the nets. With Rinku’s sudden departure, Malayali player Sanju is under contention among coaches to be used for the crucial match. Sanju had a lengthy session at the nets on Tuesday.

Experts, including former players, have been advocating for Sanju’s inclusion in the team to cut off the monotony of a dominant southpaw batting lineup that crumbled against South Africa. Mohammed Kaif was the latest to suggest that the coaching team consider including the Malayali batsman for the next game.

Pressure is mounting on Abhishek Sharma, who is yet to find his rhythm with that bat after coming out of a stomach illness. If the management prefers to rest Rinku in the next game, Sanju will likely be brought in to the third position to bat, with no big change to the opening lineup. There are reports that the team is planning a deft batting lineup without cluttering the designated roles of players.

The pitch at Chepauk is likely to favour spinners. Training session for Thursday’s match is going at full throttle, while the final reports regarding the team lineup will come out soon.