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India's T20 World Cup Squad Press Conference Highlights: Ajit Agarkar Breaks Silence On Virat Kohli's Strike-Rate, Rinku Singh-KL Rahul Snub
India T20 World Cup squad selection press conference highlights: BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar shared his views on the omission of Rinku Singh from the T20 World Cup 2024 squad.
India T20 World Cup squad: Rohit Sharma and Ajit Agarkar in press conference.© BCCI
India T20 World Cup Squad Press Conference Highlights: BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar shared his views on the omission of Rinku Singh from the T20 World Cup 2024 squad. While he labelled Rinku's omission as "unfortunate", Agarkar explained that they wanted to play an extra bowler in the team. The chairman of the selection committee also silenced the debates surrounding Virat Kohli's strike-rate, saying that there are no concerns regarding his form, with he player leading the run-scoring charts in IPL 2024 with 500 runs in 10 matches. (IPL 2024 Points Table)
India T20 World Squad Selection Press Conference Highlights:
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- 18:41 (IST)BCCI Press Conference: That's it for today!Our coverage of the T20 World Cup squad press conference comes to an end. A lot of questions were answered and a lot of doubts were cleared.Do tune in to our live blog for the IPL 2024 match between SRH and RR. Click here to follow
- 18:24 (IST)BCCI Press Conference Live: Rohit on ideal combination!"One thing we looked at was our middle overs hitting. Our top order hitting has been alright. There are options there. We picked Shivam Dube based on what he has done in IPL and before that. We spoke about it and decided. There is no guarantee what our playing 11 will be like. We will play a few practice games and depending on conditions and opposition, decide our plans.": Rohit on playing XI.
- 18:22 (IST)BCCI Press Conference Live: Rohit plays down IPL-based selections!"We sort of make the playing 11 in our mind. Lot of the prep and the talk happens during the IPL. We have been playing this format for a while. The talk of how our 15 is going to be started long back. You can't change your plans based on a few IPL performances.": Rohit on T20 World Cup squad.
- 18:14 (IST)BCCI Press Conference Live: Rohit on returning as captain!"I was Captain, then not being Captain & then again Captain. It is part of life. Not everything will go your way. It has been a great experience. Before in my life as well I have not been captain & played under a lot of Captains. So, it is no different to me": Rohit on his captaincy.
- 18:11 (IST)BCCI Press Conference Live: Rohit-Kohli to open?Rohit Sharma hasn't confirmed the openers for the tournamet. Addressing the issue, he said: ""All the options are open. We haven't decided yet, there is no guarantee and we will go there to the West Indies and depending on the conditions we will decide the playing XI."
- 17:49 (IST)BCCI Press Conference Live: Agarkar addresses Hardik's form!"There has been no talks about the vice captaincy - what Hardik brings as a cricketer, it's tough to replace - he gives lots of options to the captain as well and he is just coming back after a long break. There are no replacements for the things he can do.": Agarkar on vice-captain Hardik Pandya.
- 17:48 (IST)BCCI Press Conference Live: Agarkar on Kohli SR!"We haven't been discussing Kohli's strike-rate. There is a difference between IPL and international cricket. You need experience. We have got enough balance and power in the team. You look and try take positives from what is happening in IPL. Pressure of a World Cup game is different," Ajit Agarkar plays down Virat Kohli strike-rate criticism.
- 17:46 (IST)BCCI Press Conference Live: Rohit on leaving off-spinners!"We discussed the option of adding an off-spinner. Unfortunately Washi hasn't played much cricket. It was between Asha and Axar. We thought having 2 left-arm spinners, and Axar has been in good from since the 50-over world cup, he has been bowling well, has done well for India. He is also a very experienced player," Rohit on not picking an off-spinner.
- 17:43 (IST)BCCI Press Conference Live: Rohit's cheeky take on Bumrah's partners!On being asked to pick Bumrah's partner for the tournament, Rohit said: "5 taarik ko match hai, abhi se bolke kya karunga? (The first match (vs Ireand) is on June 5. So there is plenty of time to decide that)."
- 17:37 (IST)BCCI Press Conference Live: Agarkar feels Rinku's snub "unfortunate"He has done nothing wrong, even Shubman Gill. There are a couple of wrist-spinners in the team to give rohit more options. Similar case for Axar who is a batting all-rounder. 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.: Agarkar on Rinku Singh
- 17:35 (IST)BCCI Press Conference Live: Rohit on Shivam Dube's selection!"We picked shivam dube based on his performances in IPL and a few games he played before in the national team. But, there's no guarantee what our playing XI will be. It will be based on practice and the opposition": Rohit at the press conference.
- 17:30 (IST)BCCI Press Conference Live: Rohit openes up his break from T20Is!"When T20 World Cup was happening, we missed a lot of T20Is. Test cricket is a format that you don't want to miss and give priority to. That's what we discussed with the players and the coaches too. Ajit came later. He doesn't know what was discussed. Whichever format happens, we give priority to that format. As 50 over World Cup was happening, we missed a lot of T20Is," Rohit on missing T20Is after T20 World Cup 2022.
- 17:21 (IST)BCCI Press Conference Live: We are about to get underway!The wait is finally over! Rohit Sharma and Ajit Agarkar have finally arrived inside the press conference. They have taken their respective chairs and the presser is about to get underway. Will Rohit and Agarkar be able duck the bouncers from the media personnel?
- 17:18 (IST)BCCI Press Conference Live: Srikkanth throws weight behind Rinku!Krishnamachari Srikkanth hit out at the Indian selection committee for not keeping Rinku Singh in the 15-member squad for the upcoming World Cup 2024 and said that the 26-year-old batter was made the "scapegoat"."He has played match-winning knocks in South Africa. Remember the game against Afghanistan in which Rohit scored a hundred? India were 22 for 4, from there, they scored 212. Rinku played a crucial Knock. He has given his all whenever he played for India. This is rubbish, rubbish selection. Why do you need 4 spinners? All of them have to go? You have made the selection to please a few people and you have made Rinku Singh a scapegoat," Srikkanth said.
- 17:15 (IST)BCCI Press Conference Live: Akram joins SL's coaching staff!Meanwhile, Sri Lanka have a new mentor for T20 World Cup, the one and only Wasim Akram.
Pakistan's legendary pacer Wasim Akram joins Sri Lanka as fast bowling mentor ahead of T20 World Cup pic.twitter.com/HELzPVKTVZ
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) May 2, 2024 - 17:04 (IST)BCCI Press Conference Live: Rohit takes selfie with a fan!Rohit obliged for a selfie with a fan! Great gesture from the skip
Rohit Sharma taking a picture with a fan ahead of the Press conference.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 2, 2024
- Nice gesture by Rohit. pic.twitter.com/cPhT5Y9rfb - 16:56 (IST)BCCI Press Conference Live: The wait continues!The stage is set for the press conference. Waiting for Ajit Agarkar and Rohit Sharma arrival's at the press box.
Ready for Rohit Sharma & Ajit Agarkar's press conference #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/bGMejsdJxy
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) May 2, 2024 - 16:41 (IST)BCCI Press Conference Live: Rohit is here!Rohit Sharma has also arrived at BCCI's office. This means we are only a few minutes away from the start of the presser. Stay tuned for all the updates
#WATCH | Team India captain Rohit Sharma arrives at BCCI headquarters in Mumbai pic.twitter.com/ENUKECiP9P
— ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2024 - 16:12 (IST)BCCI Press Conference Live: Agarkar is here!Ajit Agarkar just got out his car is on his way to the press room. We still awai any update on Rohit's arrival
#WATCH | BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar arrives at BCCI office in Mumbai pic.twitter.com/s6oxDes7Nh
— ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2024 - 16:05 (IST)BCCI Press Conference Live: Will Virat Kohli open?Despite criticism over his strike-rate, Virat Kohli is sitting at the top in the Orange Cap list with 500 runs in 10 matches. While there have also been talks over him opening the innings for India, most of the experts have backed Jaiswal to open with Rohit.Will Rohit break his silence on the opening combination?
- 15:57 (IST)BCCI Press Conference LIVE: Canada announce squad for WC!Saad Bin Zafar, a player of Pakistani origin, is set to lead Canada in their maiden T20 World Cup campaign.Canada T20 World Cup Squad: Saad Bin Zafar (C), Aaron Johnson, Dilon Heyliger, Dilpreet Bajwa, Harsh Thaker, Jeremy Gordon, Junaid Siddiqui, Kaleem Sana, Kanwarpal Tathgur (wk), Navneet Dhaliwal, Nicholas Kirton, Pargat Singh, Ravinderpal Singh, Rayyankhan Pathan, Shreyas Movva (wk).Reserves: Tajinder Singh, Aaditya Varadharajan, Ammar Khalid, Jatinder Matharu, Parveen Kumar
- 15:46 (IST)BCCI Press Conference LIVE: Rishabh Pant opens up on his road to recovery!
Fortune favours the brave
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 1, 2024
After his life-changing event, @RishabhPant17's triumphant return and rise in the #IPL propelled him into #TeamIndia's #T20WorldCup squad!
Watch him narrate how he overcame his challenges by setting more achievable goals!
Tune in to... pic.twitter.com/3Nj05YuWt5 - 15:38 (IST)India T20 WC Squad LIVE Updates: Balaji's take on team!
Highlights, strengths, areas of concern, and areas for improvement- @lakshbalaji55 offers a critical assessment of #TeamIndia's squad for the #T20WorldCup2024, being pleased overall
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 2, 2024
Do you agree with our Incredible StarCast?
Tune in to #T20WorldCupOnStar, 2nd June onwards... pic.twitter.com/XaLSqMSifK - 15:18 (IST)India T20 WC Squad LIVE Updates: Can Sanju take RR to playoffs?Sanju Samson is a man on a mission. Can he justify his selection with a top performance vs SRH today?
"I just want to keep doing something spectacular."@IamSanjuSamson believes that you have to be special to get a spot in #TeamIndia!
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 2, 2024
After his selection in the #T20WorldCup squad, can he keep the good times rolling in the Rajasthan camp too?
Watch him in action in stunning... pic.twitter.com/E8ZRGJRiiE - 15:10 (IST)India T20 WC Squad LIVE Updates: Presser to start shortly!We are less than an hour away from the start of the presser with Rohit Sharma and chief selector Ajit Agarkar. Plenty of doubts in the minds of the fans and experts. Will Rohit and Agarkar answer them all? Stay tuned in to find out!
- 14:41 (IST)India T20 WC Squad LIVE Updates: Pathan backs "captain" Rohit!Irfan Pathan feels Rohit Sharma is currently the best individual to lead the team into the ICC Men's T20 World Cup"As far as captaincy is concerned, he is the best leader you have. We always talk about the players, but leadership is a totally different thing. We saw what happened in this IPL with quite a few captains; it's not easy. Captaining a side in cricket still holds great value and this is why we always talk highly about Mahendra Singh Dhoni. He has been rated highly by the entire world for the reason that it's such a tough job, and he made it very simple. And after Mahendra Singh Dhoni, when test matches came, Virat was your best captain ever, the way he took the team in front. So the leadership was there for the world to see how he was making an impact in test cricket. But when it comes to recent white ball cricket, you can't look beyond Rohit Sharma. He is your best leader, even with the bench strength considered. In the future, they will be keeping an eye on Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah as far as captaincy is concerned. Now we have Hardik Pandya as the Vice Captain, Rishabh Pant is also there in your leadership role group if he gets going because he was there in the leadership role before he got injured. So there are three or four guys who are ready, but Rohit is the number one."
- 14:38 (IST)India T20 WC Squad LIVE Updates: Sangakkara backs selectors!Amid criticism over the squad selection, former Sri Lanka captain and Rajasthan Royals Director of Cricket Kumar Sangakkara feels India's squad is strong and balanced.
"It's an extremely strong squad. They've got their batting covered, they've got their all-rounders in. They've got very high-quality spin and they've got very good combinations that they can play. Knowing the conditions there, I'm sure Rahul (Dravid) and Rohit (Sharma) have a good idea of what the squad should be to play the cricket they want in the World Cup. And they'll be having two or three different combinations, depending on whether they want a deeper batting line-up or more strength in their bowling. But it's a really well-balanced squad, a very strong squad and India's always been very strong in international tournaments," Sangakarra said ahead of SRH vs RR IPL 2024 match. - 14:24 (IST)India T20 WC Squad LIVE Updates: Ravi Bishnoi's exclusion!India picked four spinners in the squad, but there was no place for young leggie Ravi Bishnoi, who is the 6th ranked bowler in the ICC T20I rankings. The LSG spinner has been in fine form in IPL 2024 and picked 1/28 against MI after being snubbed from the squad. This is another huge call which Agarkar and Rohit would need to address.
- 14:19 (IST)India T20 WC Squad LIVE Updates: Pathan picks Bumrah as vice-captain!Irfan Pathan has criticised the BCCI's 'planning clarity' and questions the choice to name Hardik Pandya as vice-captain instead of Jasprit Bumrah. Hardik has been a shadow of the player he is in the ongoing IPL.
- 12:37 (IST)India T20 WC Squad LIVE Updates: Will Hardik and Dube both bowl?Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube both found a place in the squad at the expense of much-deserving Rinku Singh's exclusion. However, it remains to be see if both will bowl for India in the tournament. Some tought questions await Rohit and Agarkar.
Topics mentioned in this article
India Cricket Team
Rohit Sharma
Hardik Pandya
Virat Kohli
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