‘In two or three series, we’ll get to know…’: Pragyan Ojha on India’s combination for T20 World Cup | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Former Indian cricketer Pragyan Ojha has expressed his belief that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) management and selectors may take two or three more tournaments to thoroughly assess the squad ahead of the T20 World Cup in 2024.
As India and South Africa gear up for the T20I series commencing on Sunday, Ojha noted that the visitors have fielded a team similar to the one that played against Australia post the ODI World Cup.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli would join the team during the Test series starting on December 26 in Centurion. Ojha cautioned against making premature judgments about the future of Kohli and Rohit in India’s limited-overs squad.

In an exclusive interview with IANS, he emphasised the management’s strategy of giving chances to youngsters and assessing how new players adapt to different roles in various situations.

“It is too quick to say that Rohit and Virat aren’t a part of the white-ball setup. The think tank and management know about the potential of Rohit and Virat. Right now, new players are being given a chance, they are being understood how they will react in a given situation,” Ojha asserted.

He highlighted the approach taken by the management before the 2023 ODI World Cup, where new players were tried out to clarify roles for the showpiece event.
Responding to questions about Kohli potentially opening in the T20 World Cup, Ojha stated that such decisions would be made by the administration. He suggested that insights into Team India‘s think tank strategies would emerge in the next two or three tournaments.
“That management and selectors will decide; in the coming two or three series, we will get to know what Team India’s think tank is thinking,” Ojha stated on the sidelines of the Legends League Cricket (LLC) 2023, where he is playing for Urbanrisers Hyderabad.

Ahead of the LLC 2023 finals between Urbanrisers Hyderabad and Manipal Tigers, Ojha highlighted the challenges for retired cricketers, emphasising the importance of being mentally and physically fit when returning to play occasional cricket.
“Challenges are different in IPL and International cricket. Here (in LLC), the biggest challenge is how you keep yourself fit mentally and physically because you are not playing regular cricket. Players are at different levels of their career and to come back and play cricket is a big thing,” he concluded.
(With inputs from IANS)