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.
India T20 World Squad Selection Press Conference Highlights:
- 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)
- 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?
- 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!
- 14:38 (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)
- 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.
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