Following the announcement of India‘s T20 World Cup squad on Tuesday, skipper Rohit Sharma and chief selector Ajit Agarkar held a press conference to address questions surrounding the team selection.
Focus on Spin Bowling: Axar Patel Gets the Nod Over Rinku Singh
A key talking point was the omission of middle-order batsman Rinku Singh. Agarkar explained the decision to include an extra spinner, Axar Patel, stating, “He [Rinku Singh] has done nothing wrong… We thought to have another bowling option might be handy. It was tough on him, but at the end of the day we had to pick the team.”
Sharma echoed this sentiment, revealing his preference for a spin-heavy attack. “I wanted 4 spinners in the squad. I won’t say the reason for that here, I’ll let you know in the USA,” he said, leaving some room for speculation.
KL Rahul Not a Perfect Fit for Middle-Order Role
Another highly discussed topic was the absence of KL Rahul. Agarkar clarified that Rahul’s opening batsman role didn’t align with the team’s current needs.
“We are looking at who’s in the middle order. Rishabh at 5 for DC [Delhi Capitals]. Sanju [Samson] has the ability to come down the order. Not about who’s better and who’s not,” he explained, highlighting the middle-order batting capabilities of Sanju Samson.
Virat Kohli’s Strike Rate: No Cause for Concern
Concerns regarding Virat Kohli‘s IPL strike rate were also addressed. Despite Kohli’s consistent run-scoring, some questioned his recent strike rate. Dismissing these concerns, Agarkar stated, “We haven’t been discussing Virat Kohli’s strike rate at all. He has been performing really well in the IPL, no point overthinking.”
The appointment of Hardik Pandya as vice-captain, despite his recent injury absence, was another point of interest. Agarkar emphasized Pandya’s value, saying, “As long as he (Hardik Pandya) is fit, there is no replacement for what he can do… he gives lots of options to the captain as well and he is just coming back after a long break.”
The lack of an off-spinner in the squad also drew questions. Rohit addressed this, explaining, “We discussed whether to have an off spinner or not. Washy [Washington Sundar] hasn’t played a lot of cricket… We thought that having 2 left arm spinners… was the way to go.” He further highlighted Axar Patel’s experience and all-round ability as a key factor in his selection.
Expectations for All-Rounders: Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya
When asked about the expectations from all-rounders Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma looked towards their IPL performances as an indicator. “Expect them to do what they are in IPL… Shivam hasn’t bowled in IPL but he’s a seasoned cricketer… When he plays in T20, its about skills coming into the picture… Same with Hardik as well; he has been bowled regularly in IPL,” he said.
With the press conference providing some clarity on the team selection process, all eyes are now on the upcoming T20 World Cup and the performances of the chosen Indian squad.
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