In preparation for the upcoming ODI World Cup in 2023, the Indian cricket team is focusing on building a core group of players while also looking ahead to the T20 World Cup next year. Ajit Agarkar, the BCCI chairman of selectors, is set to join the team during the second Test against West Indies in Trinidad to meet with captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid.
This will be Agarkar’s first meeting with Rohit and Dravid in his capacity as chief selector, and it is reported that they will discuss the future of Indian cricket and the team’s plans for the T20 format with an eye on the 2024 T20 World Cup.
“The time to bring in young blood in the T20 set up is overdue. They need enough opportunities and exposure before the big event to settle into their roles. Agarkar will make it clear to both Rohit and Kohli that they should concentrate on ODI and Test cricket,” a source said.
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Rohit and Kohli have not played T20I cricket for India since the World Cup in Australia last year, where the team exited in the semifinals. In their absence, all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been leading the team in the shortest format, with Rohit continuing as captain in Tests and ODIs.
In August, India is scheduled to play a five-match T20I series against West Indies, followed by a three-match series in Ireland. While Rohit and Kohli remain vital parts of their respective IPL franchises, their focus will be on the national team and the longer formats of the game as per Agarkar’s plans.
During the IPL 2023, Rohit led the Mumbai Indians to the playoffs, although he had a relatively ordinary season individually. Kohli, on the other hand, no longer captains the Royal Challengers Bangalore, but he finished as the team’s second-highest run-scorer with an impressive tally of 639 runs from 14 innings, including two centuries and six fifties.
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The discussions between Agarkar, Rohit, and Kohli will help shape the future of Indian cricket and provide opportunities for the younger generation to make their mark in T20 cricket before the important tournaments on the horizon.
