'No time to experiment, game time must be given to WC probables'

NT Correspondent

Flush with exciting talent and focussed on the T20 World Cup in exactly eight months’ time, the Rohit Sharma-led Team India would be aiming to get its combinations right when it takes on the West Indies in a threematch series beginning here on Wednesday.

“Experimentation is over-rated.” That was Rohit Sharma, the India captain, responding to whether the team will look to give the fringe players a go in the upcoming three T20I series against West Indies in Kolkata. “I feel the word experimentation is over-rated, in my terms,” he said ahead of Wednesday’s first T20I. “We are trying to find those holes that are there in the squad and try and fill that gap. So whatever it takes, we will try and do that.”

“All these guys [the fringe players] are very young and haven’t played a lot of cricket. We need to give them the assurity and the game time. Once we have that, then we can try out things. Till then, whatever little holes we have in our squad, we have to try and fill that,” Rohit added.

‘IPL batting slot will not be considered for Team India’

An Ishan Kishan or a Shreyas Iyer may have been paid hefty sums to perform a particular role for their IPL sides but that won’t be up for consideration when skipper Rohit Sharma decides what’s best for India’s T20 team going into this year’s World Cup in Australia.

“Honestly, there is no consideration of the IPL here. We are not going to look at where they are going to bat in the IPL. What matters is where they are going to bat for Team India, as simple as that,” the message was loud and clear.

Focus on role clarity

“We’ve spoken to guys about what roles they will need to do during the World Cup. That mindset needs to be to bat or bowl in that fashion. The clarity has been given to them,” Rohit said.

Leave Kohli alone:

Rohit on Virat’s form “If you guys (media) can keep quiet for a while, everything will be alright. If talking from your side stops, everything will be taken care of,” Rohit said in support of his predecessor. He said Kohli is not under any pressure and will come good soon.

Not B’luru, Kohli’s 100th Test in Mohali

The BCCI on Tuesday announced a revised itinerary for the home series against Sri Lanka, beginning February 25, confirming that the Twenty20 series will be played before the two Tests.

India vs Sri Lanka schedule: 1st T20I, February 24, Thursday - Lucknow 2nd T20I, February 26, Saturday - Dharamsala 3rd T20I, February 27, Sunday - Dharamsala 1st Test, March 4-8 - Mohali 2nd (Day-Night) Test, March 12-16, Bengaluru