Rohit Sharma debunks claims of top-tier meeting with Dravid, Agarkar regarding T20 World Cup squad

India captain Rohit Sharma has debunked claims of a top-tier meeting with head coach Rahul Dravid and BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar to decide on the 2024 T20 World Cup squad. Per Rohit, all three concerned names are in different parts of the world and have not spoken on this, let alone meeting. While Rohit is playing IPL 2024 for Mumbai Indians, Agarkar is said to be in Dubai, and Dravid is busy with his family in his hometown Bengaluru.

Following the England Tests at home, speculations surrounding changes in Indian cricket team are making headlines, with the T20 World Cup being the highlight. Earlier, as per several media reports, all three were said to have met to discuss the squad for the 20-team-tournament in the Caribbean and the USA starting June 1.

Reports suggested that Rohit, Dravid and Agarkar talked about Hardik Pandya's future in the white-ball side, given his exploits in the ongoing cash-rich league, wherein his lack of bowling has raised tensions for the India captain and selectors.

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"I haven't met anyone," Rohit said during the Club Prairie Fire podcast involving Michael Vaughan and Adam Gilchrist. "Ajit Agarkar is somewhere in Dubai playing golf, and Rahul Dravid is actually watching his kids play in Bengaluru... We haven't met, to be honest."

"In today's day and age, unless you hear it from either myself or Rahul himself or Ajit himself or someone from BCCI coming and talking in front of the camera, everything is fake," he continued.

Pressure on selectors to pick right squad

Despite India coming agonisingly close to winning the home World Cup last year, they failed, losing to Australia in the summit clash by six wickets. As the Men in Blue look to end their trophy drought at the top level, the 2024 T20 World Cup comes across as a perfect opportunity.

However, with that comes a bigger risk of picking the right players for theformat. Considering that IPL performances will play a role in selectors naming a final 15 for the marquee event, some players have failed to live up to their hype this season.

While the selectors have their eyes set on the newcomers trying to break into the bigger picture, they cannot overlook what experienced players have brought to the table before.

The selection committee would name the squad around April end or beginning of May.