Captain Rohit’s message: Team management clear with Shreyas that it wants all-round option


PTI, Feb 18, 2022, 9:54 AM IST

Shreyas Iyer might have been the third biggest buy at the IPL auction but to fit into India’s T20 combination, he would need to showcase all-round skills as that’s what the team is looking for in the middle-order slot, skipper Rohit Sharma has said.

Wednesday was a mixed bag for Shreyas.

Around evening, Kolkata Knight Riders unveiled the worst kept secret in the IPL universe by announcing their Rs 12.25 crore recruit as franchise captain for 2022.

By 6:30 pm, however, it was clear that the former Delhi Capitals and new KKR captain isn’t fitting into the specialist batter category in Team India for the T20 game against West Indies.

“Someone like Shreyas Iyer is sitting out, very hard on him to be out and not making it to the XI, but it’s what the team requires. We need that option in the middle, someone who can bowl,” Rohit said, after India’s easy six-wicket win in the first T20 International on Wednesday.

“It’s always nice when you have those kind of competitions going on,” he added.

Skipper Rohit gave a glimpse of what kind of team combination he is looking at in the shortest format and he made the hard but prudent call in picking a ‘360 degree’ player like Suryakumar Yadav along with the less fancied Iyer — Venkatesh, who brings in all-round skills to the table.

“We were very clear with Shreyas, we told him the team wants that option (of an all-rounder) going into the World Cup. They are all smart guys, professionals and they understand the team comes first,” the Indian captain said.

“A lot of things go into deciding the playing XI, the opposition, the conditions, the dimensions of the ground. Yes, sometimes it can be tough for the guys missing out but we are making sure we are giving out a very clear message. Unfortunate but we want to put the team first,” the skipper displayed no ambiguity in his statements.

It is also understood that Shreyas’ technique against the short ball has been a bit susceptible and a lot of work is going into making him correct his body position to deal with express quicks in future.

All those who witnessed a couple of days’ training at Eden Gardens saw how Rohit, himself a fine exponent of pull-shot, was seen explaining to Shreyas a thing or two about balance.

On the eve of the match after regular nets session, Shreyas wore the helmet and didn’t have his pads on but team’s throwdown specialist Raghavendra was seen standing at 10 yards and feeding him with fast but loopy balls, aimed at his helmet visor as he continuously played the pull-shot.

It was an exercise to perfect a particular shot as Rahul Dravid kept a hawk’s eye on the proceedings.

As Rohit had mentioned before the match, IPL dynamics won’t dictate how he builds a team, he walked the talk.

Hence it wasn’t surprising to see Shreyas (Rs 12.25 crore), Shardul Thakur (Rs 10.75 crore), and Avesh Khan (Rs 10 crore) along with two retained players (Ruturaj Gaikwad Rs 6 crore) and Mohammed Siraj (Rs 7 crore) warming the bench.

Add to it Deepak Hooda’s Rs 5.75 crore and Kuldeep Yadav’s Rs 2 crore base price, India’s reserve bench was worth more than Rs 50 crore.

“When the guys who are missing come back it’s going to be very challenging to make the playing XI. But I’m happy with that challenge rather than not having players,” Rohit said.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

NIA arrests key accused in 2023 attack on Indian High Commission in London

IT sleuths threatening raided leaders to claim money belongs to me, Cong: DK Shivakumar

MCC violation: Karnataka HC grants interim relief to Shivakumar

Second phase of LS polls: Polling on Friday for 88 seats in 13 states

Parliament security breach: Court grants Delhi Police additional time to complete probe

Orange alert: Karnataka State Disaster Management cell issues animated advisory

PM Modi to begin 2-day whirlwind campaign in Karnataka from Apr 28

Related Articles More

Gukesh credits Vishwanathan Anand for his Chess journey

Indian prodigy D Gukesh returns triumphant to cheering crowds in Chennai

Credit to Stoinis as it didn’t seem like 210 track: KL Rahul

“Had the game in hand, but…”: Ruturaj Gaikwad on reason behind CSK’s 1st home loss in IPL 2024

Stoinis ton shocks CSK as LSG win by six wickets

MUST WATCH

Skin Rash, Causes, Signs and Symptoms

11 bullets found in python’s body!

K. Jayaprakash Hegde Sharing His Memories

Grafting Jack Anil

Heat Illness


Latest Additions

NIA arrests key accused in 2023 attack on Indian High Commission in London

Three persons run over by train in Bengaluru

Indian nationals aboard ‘MSC Aries’ in good health, return delayed due to technicalities: MEA

Husband has no control over wife’s ‘stridhan’: SC

IT sleuths threatening raided leaders to claim money belongs to me, Cong: DK Shivakumar

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.