“How does it really feel, Rohit, to captain someone, then be captained (by the identical particular person) and captain (that participant) once more?”
Rohit Sharma had been fashionably late. The India captain was within the constructing virtually 45 minutes after the scheduled time for a press convention for which the choice committee chairman Ajit Agarkar arrived virtually 45 minutes earlier than time.
And by the point he settled right into a comfy-looking leather-based chair and was requested the primary query about India’s group for subsequent month’s T20 World Cup, Rohit had the look of a person who would’ve most popular to be anyplace else however on the Wankhede Stadium.
Rohit smiled his typical wry smile.
“It’s a part of life, not the whole lot will go your method,” he stated, making an attempt to sound philosophical. “Earlier than in my life, I’ve not been captain, so it’s nothing new to me. No matter is there, is there and also you go by it, do what’s required from you. I’ve solely tried to do this within the final month or so.”
No names had been taken. However there have been no prizes for guessing who was being referred to. In a season the place he has been probably the most talked-about – quite, scrutinised – gamers, it was hardly stunning that the primary query was about Hardik Pandya.
As Rohit and Agarkar sat there analysing India’s squad for the T20 World Cup, which begins on June 2, the subject of Pandya got here up again and again.
First, it was the elephant within the room: the difficulty of captaincy. “Typically, as selectors, you need a chief,” Agarkar stated. “Rohit has been a terrific chief – six months between the 50- over World Cup and this one. We needed to make some selections. I do know Hardik led (in) a couple of sequence earlier than that. However Rohit’s kind through the World Cup… Rohit is a good participant. It’s not prefer it’s compelled upon us.”
Leap of religion
Then got here a query about his lengthy absence and health points, given Pandya final performed for India in October 2023. After which, his questionable present kind. The captain and selector spent a substantial time justifying Pandya’s place within the squad, not to mention the choice to nominate him vice-captain.
“He has come after a longish layoff,” Agarkar stated. “He has received by all of the video games for Mumbai Indians. We have now received one other month and somewhat bit until we play our first recreation. Hope he builds on that kind.”
Till 5 months in the past, these questions might need appeared frivolous.
Pandya had been one of many key members of India’s ODI World Cup squad till he injured his ankle towards Bangladesh. Weeks after India misplaced the ultimate to Australia, he changed Rohit as Mumbai Indians captain, a transfer that was additionally seen as a passing-of-the-baton second so far as the nationwide group was involved. He was then anticipated to guide the subsequent technology of gamers who flooded the squad as India moved from the ODI cycle and started preparation for the T20 World Cup.
Pandya had been one of many key members of India’s ODI World Cup squad till he injured his ankle towards Bangladesh. (PTI)
After initially flirting with that concept, India have gone again to the tried and examined mixture, sticking to the core that’s largely remained unchanged since 2021. And Rohit performed down the thought of a generational shift, saying the personnel adjustments again then had been merely a case of giving gamers sufficient relaxation.
And so, Pandya should once more get used to being captained although he as soon as had the backing of the group administration. Agarkar threw his weight behind Pandya, saying there was ‘no alternative’ for him. Rohit implied the all-rounder, if he can get by his quota of overs, may give the freedom to play an additional spinner in situations he hinted would possibly help tweakers given the early morning begins within the West Indies.
Playing cards on the desk
“I wished 4 spinners and three seamers and with Hardik being there, you get the stability. With two spinners (Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel) being all-rounders, two attacking spinners (Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal) provide you with stability within the spin division as effectively. Based mostly on opposition composition, we will determine what to play with,” Rohit stated.
The group administration ‘mentioned lots’ the potential of including an off-spinner to the combination to get some selection to a similar-looking spin assault.
India’s Axar Patel celebrates with captain Rohit Sharma the wicket of Afghanistan’s batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz through the first T20I cricket match between India and Afghanistan, in Mohali, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024. (PTI Picture)
“(However) sadly, Washy (Washington Sundar) hasn’t been getting a chance. It was then between Ash (Ravichandran Ashwin) and Axar. We considered having two left-arm spinners who’re really taking part in and doing effectively, and Ashwin hasn’t performed as effectively for a very long time. Axar has been in good kind. He has been bowling effectively… and offers us that left-handed possibility if we wish to ship somebody within the center if we wish to do one thing completely different.”
Agarkar joked that ‘hopefully the captain can roll his arm’ if India wanted an offie. However the captain was clear in what he anticipated from Pandya and the opposite pace-bowling all-rounder, Shivam Dube. “Anticipate them to do what they’re doing within the IPL. I will probably be anticipating that if we’d like Shivam to bowl a couple of overs, he’ll. Similar with Hardik. All-rounders ka jo bhi position hai, they have to try this.”
Agarkar added: “There’s no alternative for what he brings to the group, particularly with the ball. His health is crucial and to date he has gone effectively within the IPL.”