Ajit Agarkar, the newly appointed chairman of the senior men’s selection committee, is expected to join the Indian team ahead of the second Test against the West Indies. The Test will take place at the Port of Spain in Trinidad, starting on Thursday, July 20.
During his visit, Agarkar will meet head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma for the first time since taking charge as chief selector. Reports suggest that Agarkar will travel with the team during the ODI and T20I series and engage in discussions about the team’s future.
The selection committee has already finalized the player pool for the upcoming ODI World Cup, which will be held in India later this year. Additionally, a 15-member squad has been announced for the Asian Games 2023, comprising players who are not part of the World Cup plans.
The focus of the selection committee will be on India’s roadmap for the T20 World Cup 2024, scheduled to be played in the Caribbean Islands and the United States of America. Agarkar will discuss the team’s strategies and the future of senior players in the T20 format.
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Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have not played any T20I matches since the semi-final match against England in the T20 World Cup 2022, suggesting that they are currently not in the team’s plans. Hardik Pandya led the team in the absence of regular captain Rohit Sharma.
According to reports, the selectors are prioritizing the inclusion of young players in the T20I team following underwhelming performances in the last two editions. It is believed that Rohit and Kohli may not be considered suitable for the shortest format of the game.
“The time has come to introduce young blood into the T20 setup. They need sufficient opportunities and exposure before the big event to settle into their roles. Ajit Agarkar will make it clear to both Rohit and Kohli that they should focus on ODI and Test cricket,” a source told The Telegraph.
The Indian team will play five T20I matches against the West Indies, with the first match scheduled to begin on August 3. After the West Indies tour, the Indian team will then travel to Ireland for a three-match series in Dublin on August 18, 20, and 23.