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Team India captain Rohit Sharma and chief selector Ajit Agarkar addressed the media on May 2 (Thursday) and answered questions on the 15-member squad that has been picked for the 2024 T20 World Cup. Rohit and Agarkar addressed every question and tried to give reasoning behind their decision to pick certain players while looking beyond others. Amongst the several questions that were thrown at Rohit and Agarkar, one in particular stood out.
The duo was asked about the burning debate surrounding Virat Kohli's strike rate in the shortest format of the sport and does it bodes well with how the game is evolving, particularly with batters trying to put pressure on opposition bowlers from the onset.
Agarkar answered the question as both he and Rohit had a bright smile on their faces. The Indian chief selector affirmed that there was no discussion around Virat's strike rate and while underlining the importance of experience in ICC tournaments were the pressure plays a huge role.
"We have not been discussing his strike-rate. There's difference between IPL and international cricket. You need experience. We have got enough balance and power in the team. You look and try take positives from what is happening in IPL. Pressure of a World Cup game is different," said Agarkar.
Virat Kohli on strike rate
Virat Kohli himself addressed the questions on his strike rate and hit out at pundits questioning his approach or intent in the shortest format of the game.
"Not really, all the people who talk about strike-rates and me not playing spin well are the ones talking about this stuff. For me, it's about winning the games for the team and there's a reason why you've done it for 15 years, you've done this day in and day out, you've won games for your teams, I'm not quite sure that if you haven't been in that situation yourself, to sit and talk about the game from the box," Kohli had said after Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) match against the Gujarat Titans (GT) on April 28.
"For me, people can talk about their assumptions day in and day out, but those who have done day in and day out, they know what's happening and it's a kind of muscle memory for me now," he told the broadcasters.
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