MUMBAI: One player whose exclusion from India's 15-man squad evoked public outcry was
Rinku Singh
. In the 11 innings that he's played for India so far, the left-hander, batting at No. 5 or No. 6, has scored 356 runs at a strike rate of 176.23 and an average of 89. Even though he's in the reserves, Rinku lost out in the race for a
T20 World Cup
spot to Shivam Dube.
India's chief selector
Ajit Agarkar
appeared apologetic about that call, admitting that it was the "toughest decision" his committee took. "It was the toughest decision. He has done nothing wrong, nor has
Shubman Gill
. It's just the combinations. We're not sure of the conditions we'll get (in the USA) and we wanted to have enough (bowling) options.
"We had a couple of wrist-spinners to give Rohit more options, I don't think it's anything to do with Rinku. It's not his fault that he missed out, it's more the 15 we felt we needed, with two keepers who are both terrific batters, we will have an extra batter sitting out.
"But he's still one of the traveling substitutes. That's how close he was, but we can only take 15," Agarkar said.
Despite calls for introducing fresh blood in India's T20 team, the selectors chose to go with experience yet again. Barring
Yashasvi Jaiswal
replacing KL Rahul in the opening slot and the inclusion of Shivam Dube, the top six in the batting order is the same as that of the last T20 World Cup in 2022, in which India exited after a 10-wicket drubbing at the hands of England in the semifinal.
On Thursday at the
BCCI
HQ, chief selector Ajit Agarkar explained why he and his committee pitched for experience at the cost of youth.
"These guys have been around because they've been good enough to be around. That's the reason they have played in multiple World Cups. We've tried to get in players who are going to bat a certain way in the middle of the innings, where a lot of teams will use spin sometimes. That has been an issue. We have tried to address that. We have tried to get in some left-handers as well through the middle of that innings.
Suryakumar
is the No. 1 T20 player. I don't think he's too bad through the middle either," Agarkar said.
Agarkar said there has been no discussion among the selectors over
Virat Kohli
's strike rate, something that has often been pointed out as a drawback in the former skipper's T20 game. "We have not been discussing it. He has been in great form, no concerns there at all. You are still going to a World Cup, there is still a gap there. That's where experience matters a lot. If the tournament turns out like the IPL, if it's a 220 pitch, we have the skills. When you turn up for a World Cup, the pressure is different," Agarkar said.
'No replacement for Pandya'
Defending
Hardik Pandya
's inclusion as Rohit's deputy, Agarkar said, "Nothing was discussed with regard to vice-captaincy. About form, he has come after a longish year off. The good part that we have looked at is he has got through all the games so far for MI. We have got another month and a little bit till the first game. If he stays fit, we know what he brings, how much balance he gives the team."
English (US) ·