Chief selector Ajit Agarkar to meet Rahul Dravid, Rohit Sharma in West Indies to discuss World Cup road map | Cricket News

Former India bowler and the current chairman of BCCI‘s senior selection committee, Ajit Agarkar, is scheduled to visit the West Indies to hold discussions with head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma regarding the plans for the upcoming 50-over World Cup, which is set to commence on October 5 in Ahmedabad.
India’s first match in the tournament will be against Australia in Chennai on October 8, followed by the clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on October 15 in Ahmedabad.
“Currently Salil Ankola is in the West Indies but he will be back after the Test series gets over. Ajit will be joining the team before start of the white-ball leg,” a BCCI source in know of things told PTI on conditions of anonymity.Following his appointment as the chairman of the selection committee, Agarkar has yet to meet the team management in person. His upcoming visit to the West Indies presents an opportunity to collaborate and devise a comprehensive blueprint for India’s strategy in the upcoming 50-over World Cup.
Aligning the objectives of the team management and selection committee is crucial, particularly in identifying the core 20 players who will form the foundation of India’s World Cup campaign. Additionally, they will address concerns related to player fitness and workload management.
The discussions between the chairman of selectors and the team management will also involve outlining a transition plan for the team’s future endeavors.

One of the focal points of these discussions will be the fitness status of Jasprit Bumrah and his availability for the three-match T20 series in Ireland. It has been noted that the National Cricket Academy’s sports science and medical unit is yet to issue a Return to Play (RTP) certificate for the fast bowler based in Ahmedabad.
In the meantime, VVS Laxman will take over the coaching duties for the tour to Ireland. This arrangement allows Dravid to rest, considering the limited turnaround time between the West Indies and Ireland tours.
While there are no strict rules in this regard, it has become customary for the head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) to assume the coaching role for second-string tours or ‘A’ series. Previously, Dravid fulfilled this responsibility and now Laxman performs that role.

(AI image)