BCCI selector Ajit Agarkar travels to WI to meet head coach Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma to discuss about India’s World Cup squad.
Ajit Agarkar travels to WI
The BCCI selector Ajit Agarkar is set to travel to West Indies to meet head coach Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma to discuss the upcoming World Cup which is about to start on October 5 in Ahmedabad.
As per World Cup 2023 schedule, India will their first game against Australia in Chennai on October 8 and the much-awaited clash against Pakistan is scheduled to play on October 15 in Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
“Currently Salil Ankola is in the West Indies but he will be back after the Test series gets over. Ajit will be joining the team before the start of the white-ball leg,” told by BCCI official in PTI.
After being appointed as the chairman of the selection committee, Ajit Agarkar didn’t have a chance to meet the team management in person and this will be an opportunity to discuss India’s strategy for the ICC World Cup.
The team management and selection committee needs to discuss players’ selection for the World Cup apart from dealing with fitness issues and workload management.
Both chairman of selectors and the team management will also discuss the transition plan.
The Indian side is currently in Trinidad, preparing for the second Test match against the West Indies after beating them comfortably by an innings and 141 runs in the first Test in Dominica.
Before that, Agarkar, who was appointed as the chief selector of the senior men’s cricket team earlier this month, wants to have detailed discussions with Dravid and Rohit to finalise a core group of 20 players for the World Cup.
The former India pacer is set to join the team ahead of the ODI series starting July 27.
Statement on Bumrah and KL Rahul Fitness
It is said to know there will be discussions on Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness status which resides on whether to go to Ireland for the three-match T20I series or not.
It can be confirmed that National Cricket Academy’s Sports Science and Medical Unit is yet to issue an RTP (Return to Play) certificate to the Ahmedabad-based speedster.
Meanwhile, VVS Laxman will once again take the second-string team to Ireland, as it has been the norm for short tours where Dravid is rested as the turnaround between the West Indies and Ireland tours is short.
There aren’t any rules but the convention in BCCI is that for second-string tours or A series, the NCA head doubles up as coach.
It is understood that there will be detailed discussions on Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness status and whether he will be able to go to Ireland for three-match T20 series or not.
The premier fast bowler was not seen other than practice matches, since his return to international cricket in a T20I series against Australia at home last year. Bumrah has also missed the last edition of the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup in Australia.
The right-arm pacer has started to bowl at practice matches at the National Cricket Academy but is yet to receive an RTP certificate from the National Cricket Academy’s Sport Science and Medical Unit.
KL Rahul has just started to take throwdowns after recovering from a thigh injury he suffered during IPL 2023 and also required surgery.
Probably Rahul will not take part in the Ireland series but Agarkar, Dravid and Rohit will need to take a call on KL Rahul and Bumrah for the upcoming Asia Cup in September.
