Rinku Singh has a new job with India A. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday named the left-handed batter as vice-captain of the India A squad for the ACC Rising Stars Asia Cup, after Rajat Patidar pulled out of the tournament with injury.
Patidar, 33, told the board he should not be considered for selection in the 50-over format while he manages his existing injury concerns. The selectors have brought in all-rounder Ayush Badoni as his replacement in the 15-member squad, which continues to be led by Tilak Varma.
The tournament will be played in Doha, Qatar, from November 19 to 29, and India A open their campaign against Nepal on November 20.
What the BCCI said
The board confirmed the change in a media release on Sunday. “Rajat Patidar has communicated to the BCCI that he should not be considered for selection in the 50-over format as he manages his existing injuries. Accordingly, he has been withdrawn from the India A squad for the ACC Rising Stars Asia Cup. The Men’s Selection Committee has named Rinku Singh as vice-captain, while Ayush Badoni has been added to the squad in Patidar’s place,” the release said.
The change comes less than a week after the selectors first named the squad on November 2, with Patidar as Tilak Varma’s deputy. That plan lasted six days before injury forced a rethink, and the selectors have now turned to one of Indian cricket’s most trusted finishers to fill the leadership gap.
Why Rinku Singh fits the role
Rinku, 28, is one of the most recognisable names in the squad. The Uttar Pradesh batter made his name in the Indian Premier League with Kolkata Knight Riders, most famously by hitting five sixes in the final over against Gujarat Titans in 2023, and he has since become a regular in India’s T20 side after his international debut against Ireland in August 2023.
His promotion is also a vote of confidence in his temperament. Rinku has built his reputation on staying calm in tight chases, and that experience of handling pressure at the death is exactly what a young India A side needs in a multi-team tournament. As vice-captain, he will be Tilak Varma’s sounding board on the field and a senior voice in a dressing room full of players still finding their feet at this level.
Badoni, meanwhile, gets his chance after steady performances in domestic cricket. The all-rounder comes in as a like-for-like middle-order option, and he will be keen to make the most of a tournament that has often worked as a shop window for the next rung of Indian cricket.
India A’s updated squad
- Abhishek Sharma
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
- Prabhsimran Singh (wicketkeeper)
- Tilak Varma (captain)
- Rinku Singh (vice-captain)
- Kumar Kushagra (wicketkeeper)
- Suryansh Shedge
- Shahbaz Ahmed
- Vipraj Nigam
- Harsh Dubey
- Tanush Kotian
- Harshit Rana
- Prince Yadav
- Arshad Khan
- Ayush Badoni
India A’s fixtures in Doha
India A are placed in Group B alongside Pakistan A, Nepal and the United Arab Emirates. Group A features Bangladesh A, Sri Lanka A, Afghanistan A and Hong Kong, China. The top two teams from each group will reach the semi-finals, scheduled for November 26 and 27, and the final will be played on November 29.
- November 20: India A vs Nepal, West End Park International Stadium
- November 22: India A vs Pakistan A, West End Park International Stadium
- November 24: India A vs UAE, University of Doha for Science and Technology ground
The November 22 meeting with Pakistan A is the group game everyone will circle. India-Pakistan contests at any level draw a crowd, and for a young squad this is the fixture that will test how the new leadership group of Tilak and Rinku holds up under the brightest lights.
For Rinku, the tournament is also a chance to add a leadership line to a resume that already has plenty of finishing heroics on it. India A leave for Doha in the coming days, and the vice-captain’s armband, in effect, is now his to grow into.
FAQs
Why did Rajat Patidar withdraw from the Rising Stars Asia Cup?
Patidar told the BCCI he should not be considered for selection in the 50-over format while he manages existing injury concerns, and the board withdrew him from the India A squad.
Who is the new vice-captain of India A?
Rinku Singh has been named vice-captain, with Tilak Varma continuing as captain of the 15-member squad.
Who replaced Rajat Patidar in the squad?
All-rounder Ayush Badoni has been added to the squad in Patidar’s place.
When and where is the Rising Stars Asia Cup 2026?
The tournament runs from November 19 to 29 in Doha, Qatar. India A play Nepal on November 20, Pakistan A on November 22 and the UAE on November 24.
When are the semi-finals and final?
The semi-finals are scheduled for November 26 and 27, and the final will be played on November 29.
India A’s campaign begins in Doha on November 20, and all eyes will be on how the new vice-captain shapes up in his first leadership role with the side.
