Former batter Mohammad Kaif reflected on young Indian batter Rinku Singh’s exclusion from the T20I squad against South Africa. India are set to host the Proteas for a five-match series beginning Tuesday, December 9.

Rinku Singh was not named in the 15-man squad. Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya returned to the squad after his left quadricep injury, and Rinku had to make way. Mohammad Kaif expressed that there was no other player who could have been left out. Notably, Rinku was part of the Asia Cup 2025 squad but did not play throughout and only appeared in the final.

While Kaif reckoned that Rinku would feel it was unfair that he was left out, he defended the selectors in this case.

“There is no one you could have removed with Hardik coming back. Sanju Samson in India during the World Cup will be solid. Jitesh has come in now. Even in the Asia Cup, Rinku did not play all the games. He was not in your XI anyway. The bowlers are doing well. There are many all-rounders. There was only one player who could have made way for Hardik to come in, and that was Rinku. There is no other reason. Rinku may feel it is unfair, but I am with the selectors here. Who else will you drop really?” he said on his YouTube channel.

However, Kaif believed that Rinku would soon pay all formats. He predicted that the batter would be an all-format player for the national team two years down the line.

“Rinku’s time will come. Take it from me, he will be an all-format player for India in the future. You will see him playing all formats after two years.”

Rinku made his international debut in 2023. The 28-year-old has played two ODIs and 35 T20Is so far.

Hardik Pandya’s form ahead of India comeback

Hardik Pandya missed the Asia Cup 2025 final. He was not part of the Australia tour and the South Africa ODIs as well. However, the all-rounder has regained his fitness and is set to return in India colors come the T20Is against the Proteas.

Hardik played a couple of matches for Baroda in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025-26. He smashed an unbeaten 42-ball 77 against Punjab, scoring at a strike-rate of 183.33 with seven boundaries and four maximums. In the two games, he also picked up a couple of wickets.

The Men in Blue will want Hardik to do well in the T20Is and carry the form until and into the 2026 T20 World Cup.