Ajit Agarkar To Meet Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli Over T20I Future Before SA Tour Squad Announcement – Reports

The BCCI selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, is expected to announce the squads for the upcoming white-ball series for the South Africa tour next week. The national selectors will finalize the teams for the Test series after the India ‘A’ series in South Africa.

The India ‘A’ team is scheduled to play three four-day matches during the tour. Senior Indian players, including Ravichandran Ashwin, Ajinkya Rahane, and Jaydev Unadkat, are expected to be part of the India ‘A’ squad to gain valuable match practice ahead of the Test series.

The Indian team is set to tour South Africa for three T20Is, three ODIs, and two Tests. The focus of the series is expected to be on the T20Is, with the ODI series given less weightage after the World Cup. The team is set to start its preparations for the T20 World Cup in 2024.

The Squad Will Be Picked In The Weekend – A BCCI Official

The composition of the Indian squad for the T20I series is uncertain, with a decision pending on whether senior players or a second-string squad will be selected. A senior BCCI official stated that various aspects would be considered before finalizing the squad.

“The squad will be picked in the weekend of Monday. There are a lot of things to discuss. But before Tests, we play T20s and ODIs, so squad will be around that,” a senior BCCI official told InsideSport.

Senior batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma haven’t played in T20Is since the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final loss against England. According to InsideSport, chief selector Ajit Agarkar is set to have crucial discussions with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma before finalizing the squad.

Hardik Pandya Isn’t Fit At The Moment – A BCCI Official

Hardik Pandya isn’t part of the squad for the ongoing T20I series, and his availability for the upcoming South Africa tour is uncertain. The BCCI official mentioned that the selection committee will make a decision on Pandya’s availability after consulting with the NCA.

“It’s the selection committee’s call. They will be in touch with the NCA (National Cricket Academy) on players’ workload management before taking a call. Hardik is not fit at the moment,” the BCCI official told InsideSport.

Also read: Virat Kohli To Miss White-Ball Leg During South Africa Tour – Reports