“It was a clear message that they were not yet ready to commit to the youth” – Sanjay Manjrekar on India’s 2024 T20 World squad

Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar feels that the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel was not ready to commit to the youth as they decided to pick Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the 2024 World Cup squad. The two veterans played in the T20 World Cup 2022 but then didn’t play in the T20I format for almost 18 months.

However, the duo returned for a three-match T20I series against Afghanistan just before the IPL, as the selectors indicated that they would be back for the T20I showpiece.

Meanwhile, it is well known that India has a huge pool of players and players like Rinku Singh, and Shubman Gill were a bit unlucky to miss out on the T20 World Cup squad.

Manjrekar wrote for Hindustan Times, “It felt as though the Indian selectors played it safe with their selections for the T20 World Cup squad. In picking Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, it was a clear message that they were not yet ready to commit to the youth; they still wanted some experience around for an ICC event.”

Virat Kohli has managed only 66 runs in five matches at an average of 13.20 in the ongoing T20I showpiece but Manjrekar noted that the talisman is happy to take an aggressive approach.

“The brand of cricket India are playing in this WC is one we have never seen before, and something we are trying to come to terms with. To Virat’s credit, for someone who doesn’t like getting out (a trait that can be a weakness in T20 cricket), he has also committed himself to taking risks regularly and seems okay, as of now, with getting out while taking those risks.”

India adopted an aggressive batting strategy against Bangladesh and Manjrekar expects the batters to continue in a similar fashion. 

“The way India have batted so far conveys that even though selections have taken a more traditional and cautious route, the brand of cricket on show is going to be modern and dynamic.”

India will next take on Australia at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia on Monday.