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SPORTS MAY 10, 2024 | The Indian Eye 54

2023 at home, for Sanju Samson and
Rishabh Pant.
Agarkar explained that Rahul
wasn’t considered as the team sought
wicketkeepers who could bat down
the order. “KL’s a terrific player. But
we wanted players who can bat in the
middle,” he said. “KL’s batting at top
right now [for his IPL team]. We felt
these two are better equipped at this
point in the latter half of the innings.”

WHY RINKU SINGH WAS LEFT
OUT
ndia skipper and Mumbai Indians
opening batter Rohit Sharma in-
Iteracted with Rinku Singh after
the left-handed star batter’s omis-
sion from the 15-player squad for the
upcoming T20 World Cup. The ace
KKR finisher was excluded from the
squad for the marquee event and was
named as a travelling reserve, which
left many fans as well as former crick-
eters baffled.
After addressing the media in
a press conference at BCCI’s head-
quarters, Rohit interacted with Rinku Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Virat Kohli plays a shot during the match against Gujarat Titans (ANI)
at the Wankhede Stadium ahead of
MI’s clash with KKR on Friday. MI Bengaluru hitter is second in the IPL the World Cup, the pressure will be with a couple of surprise exclusions.
posted a video on X, in which Rinku 2024 Orange Cap rankings with 500 different,” Agarkar said in the press Opener Shubman Gill and star bat-
was visibly in all smiles as Rohit ap- runs from 10 innings, he has scored conference in Mumbai. ter Rinku Singh did not find a spot in
proached the KKR star. In the next at a strike rate of 147.49. He also Earlier, India batter Kohli had the main squad.
clip, Rohit was seen having a serious finished the most recent ICC Men’s a stern response to people talking Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson
conversation with Rinku. T20 World Cup in Australia in 2022 about his recent strike rates and abil- along with Shivam Dube, on the back
Rinku managed to make the re- as the leading run-scorer with 296 ity to play spin. The India No.3 re- of strong performances in the ongo-
serve list after amassing 356 runs for runs from six innings and will be key plied to his critics with an unbeaten ing Indian Premier League (IPL),
India in 15 T20Is with an average of in India’s success at this year’s tour- 70* off 44 balls against Gujarat Ti- punched the ticket for the marquee
89 and a strike rate of 176.24. He is nament which would be his sixth ap- tans on Sunday. He batted at a strike event which will begin in June. The
not included in the ICC World T20 pearance at the marquee event. rate of 159.09 and hit six fours and event is being held in USA and the
2024 squad. Chief selector Agarkar claimed three sixes. West Indies.
During Rohit’s press conference, that Kohli’s experience surpasses “All the people who talk about India is placed in Group A of the
chief selector Ajit Agarkar was also everything. During the press confer- strike rates and me not playing spin ICC tournament alongside arch-ri-
present alongside the Indian captain. ence following the World Cup team well are the ones who love talking vals Pakistan, Ireland, Canada and
While addressing Rinku’s selection, Agarkar claimed that there about this stuff. But for me, it’s just co-hosts USA.
omission, Agarkar called it one of are no talks in the management over about winning the game for the India will begin their T20 World
the “toughest decisions” the selec- Kohli’s strike rate, and there is no team. And there’s a reason why you Cup campaign against Ireland on
tors had to make. He went on to use in overthinking it. do it for 15 years - because you’ve June 5 at the Nassau County In-
call the decision “unfortunate” for “About Virat Kohli’s strike rate I done this day in [and] day out; you’ve ternational Cricket Stadium, New
the 26-year-old hitter and claimed don’t think we have been discussing won games for your teams,” Kohli York, followed by the marquee clash
Rinku’s exclusion was only due to the it. No look he has been in great form said in the post-match interview after against Pakistan on June 9 at the
team’s desire to choose four spinners. fortunately in the IPL no concerns the game. same venue. India will then play the
Rohit also interacted with KKR there at all. With regards to what’s “I am not quite sure if you’ve USA and Canada on June 12 and 15
team mentor Gautam Gambhir and going in the IPL you’re still going to been in that situation yourself to sit respectively.
skipper Shreyas Iyer. a World Cup. It’s still international and speak about the game from a
cricket, there’s still that gap there. box. I don’t really think it’s the same India squad: Rohit Sharma (c),
NOTHING WRONG WITH You’ve got to prepare knowing that thing [as playing out there]. So, for Hardik Pandya (vc), Yashasvi
KOHLI’S STRIKE RATE there’s that gap there. That’s where me, it’s just about doing my job. Peo- Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar
experience does matter. If the tour-
ple can talk about their own ideas
Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sanju
he Board of Control for Crick- nament turns out to be like the IPL and assumptions of the game, but Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Ravin-
et in India (BCCI) chief se- is, where 220 is normal, we still have those who have done it day in [and] dra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Ya-
Tlector Ajit Agarkar rubbished enough power. We can match that. day out know what’s happening, and dav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep
queries around star batter Virat There is no real point over-thinking. it’s kind of a muscle memory for me Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj
Kohli’s strike-rate in T20 cricket, You have to look at the positives hap- now,” Kohli said. Reserves: Shubman Gill, Rinku
stating that there were “no concerns pening in the IPL form of the new The Board of Control for Crick- Singh, Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh
there at all”. guys, their performances. But at the et in India (BCCI) on Tuesday an- Khan.
While the Royal Challengers end of the day, when you turn up in nounced India’s 15-player squad

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