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India captain Rohit Sharma refused to reveal the mystery behind picking four spinners in the T20 World Cup 2024 squad. On the eve of India's T20 World Cup opener clash against Ireland, Rohit said that he wants to create a good balance with all-rounders in the team.
In a press conference with chief selector Ajit Agarkar, Rohit had said the will reveal the mystery behind picking four spinners – Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal. However, when he was asked about it in the pre-match press conference, he chose to keep it a mystery.
“This is still a mystery, you will see further,” a smiling Rohit said at the press conference keeping the cards close to his chest.
In the T20 World Cup, warm-up match against Bangladesh, Indian spinners Patel, Jadeja and Kuldeep bowled two overs each where they conceded 10, 11 and 15 runs respectively. Axar got a wicket as well.
"If you want to create a good balance in a team, you need a lot of all-rounders. In fast-bowling all-rounders we have Hardik and Dube while Jadeja and Axar give us options in the spin department," said Rohit.
The Indian captain said that the team management has planned how they will use all-rounders depending on the conditions. He hinted that the four all-rounders can feature in the playing XI as well.
"How to use these four across the tournament. We have thought about it and we will decide how to use them depending on the conditions. How to use these four players, that is our focus.
"We have seen how big a role all-rounders can play in T20 cricket. Not just in T20 cricket, but in all formats. Their role will be more than the rest of the players.
"It is important that we can use these four players well. As I said, I don't know if we can play all four together. If we can, that will be good. If we cannot, even then we have to find our way," said the skipper.
Keeping the conditions in mind, Rohit wants the batting lineup to be longer with as many bowling options he can have in the side.
"When we played the game with Bangladesh, all three spinners bowled two overs. It wasn't that easy to hit them. And in yesterday's match (SA versus SL), the spinners also took wickets. No one knows the conditions.
"The spinners will take wickets or the seamers will take. So, we possibly... We have to find the best combination and see what will suit our team. How can we keep our batting lineup longer? How can we have more bowling options?
"So, keeping these two things in mind, we will think of making a combination," he said.
After facing Ireland, Rohit-led India will face Pakistan for their second outing of the tournament which is scheduled to be played at the same venue, Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York.
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