The BCCI selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, convened in Mumbai on Saturday to finalize the T20I squad for the England series and evaluate the futures of senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. This discussion followed criticism after India’s home whitewash by New Zealand and the 1-3 loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
As reported by the ‘Hindustan Times’, the review meeting included head coach Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma, Ajit Agarkar, BCCI secretary-elect Devajit Saikia, and ICC Chairman Jay Shah, who had earlier reviewed the New Zealand series loss.
The report stated that while BCCI officials left the decision on Rohit and Kohli to the selectors, Ajit Agarkar and his team are concerned about Rohit’s declining Test performance.
The 37-year-old has managed only 164 runs in his last eight Tests, with a single fifty. In Australia, he struggled further, scoring just 31 runs across five innings at an average of 6.2.
“That is not to say that Rohit’s “I am not going anywhere” statement is how things will ultimately transpire. The selectors are known to be worried about Rohit’s falling graph in Test cricket, but the understanding is that the captain will take a considered decision at the appropriate time,” read the report.
Shubman Gill’s performance could determine Virat Kohli’s future
Kohli has faced criticism for his performances against Australia and New Zealand, managing only one century in Perth and 90 additional runs during the Australia tour.
While selectors are worried about his form, the report suggests Kohli’s future hinges on Shubman Gill’s performance in the lead-up to India’s Test series in England this June.
“With the five-Test series against England still five months away, the selectors are likely to sit over the matter before forming an opinion. Shubman Gill hasn’t settled into the Kohli role as he was expected to; nowhere close to how ready Kohli was when Sachin Tendulkar hung up his boots. This is something that will be factored in by Agarkar’s selection committee,” the report said.
Gill struggled in the Australia series, scoring only 93 runs in five innings at an average of 18.60 without a fifty. Since his standout performance at the Gabba during the 2020/21 tour, his form outside Asia has been concerning, with just 233 runs in 14 innings at an average of 17.92 and no half-centuries.
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