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Why Was KL Rahul Excluded From India's T20 World Cup Squad? Ajit Agarkar Reveals

Rahul hasn't been picked for T20 WC 2024 [AP]Rahul hasn't been picked for T20 WC 2024 [AP]

BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar has finally opened up on experienced batter KL Rahul's non-selection for the upcoming T20I World Cup in the USA and the Caribbean. 

Recently, India named a robust 19-member contingent, including four reserves, for the marquee event. 

However, the stylish batter from Karnataka failed to secure a place in the side, with the selectors preferring Sanju Samson and Rishabh Pant for the two wicket-keeping slots. 

In the post-selection press conference, Agarkar revealed that it was unfortunate for Rahul to miss out on the World Cup as the Indian think tank wanted keepers who can bat in the middle order. 

As the former Indian speedster revealed, Samson and Pant were first-choice keepers, considering their exceptional returns as middle order batters. 

"KL is a terrific player, the thing we were looking at is someone who can bat in the middle. Rishabh is batting at 5 for DC. We felt these two (Samson and Pant) are better. It wasn’t whether KL Rahul is better or Rishabh Pant or Sanju Samson better. It was about the batting slots (hence Pant and Samson were picked)," Agarkar said. 

Rahul has been in scintillating form this IPL, amassing 406 runs at an average of 40.60 and a strike rate of 142.96. However, as all of his runs have come as a top-order batter, the dynamic batter couldn't make it into the final fifteen. 

India's squad for T20 World Cup 2024

Rohit Sharma(C), Hardik Pandya (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah

Travelling reserves: Rinku Singh, Shubman Gill, Khaleel Ahmed, Avesh Khan