Following their underwhelming performance in the previous edition of the T20 World Cup, it was reported that the selectors would prioritize giving opportunities to young cricketers and potentially exclude established players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul from the T20I setup.
Sticking to this philosophy, the selectors again chose a relatively young squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against the West Indies, with neither Virat nor Rohit included. While the decision may be geared towards managing their workload ahead of the ODI World Cup, former board president Sourav Ganguly believes both Kohli and Sharma should be part of the T20I plans, highlighting their consistent success in the format.
Sourav Ganguly expressed his support for including Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the T20I team, emphasizing their exceptional
performances in the shortest game format. Ganguly pointed out that Kohli’s recent form in the Indian Premier League (IPL) was exemplary and questioned why he wouldn’t succeed in T20 internationals. According to Ganguly, selecting the best players should be the priority, regardless of their names, and both Kohli and Sharma have proven themselves in T20 cricket.
“Pick your best players; it doesn’t matter who they are. I think both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma still have a place in T20I cricket, and I cannot see why a Kohli or a Rohit cannot play T20I cricket. Kohli was in great form in the IPL, and both have a place in T20 cricket, if you ask me,” Ganguly was quoted as saying by RevSportz.
Despite Rinku Singh, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Jitesh Sharma having impressive seasons in the IPL, they were not included in the 15-member squad for the T20I series against the West Indies. Sourav Ganguly acknowledged their talent and urged them to continue performing consistently. He reassured them that opportunities would come their way, as only a few players can be selected for the squad and starting XI. Ganguly emphasized that their time to represent the senior team will arrive if they maintain their performances.
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“They just have to keep playing. They will have to keep performing in whatever chances they get. It happens all the time. Only 15 can be picked in the squad, and 11 can play. So, somebody has to miss out. I am pretty sure their time will come,” Ganguly said.
Ganguly highlighted the lack of a clear structure for T20 cricket in India, which makes it difficult to map out a roadmap for managing players’ workload effectively. With the BCCI not providing a structured framework, the selectors are left to balance players’ participation in various formats. The focus seems to be on preparing for the upcoming ODI World Cup while managing the workload of key players in the T20I format.
