BCCI Vice-President Shukla dismisses rumors of discord in Indian team
What's the story
The Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) Vice-President, Rajeev Shukla, has denied rumors of rift in the Indian cricket team. The speculation started after India's dismal 1-3 loss in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. Shukla rubbished these reports at the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup in New Delhi. Here are further details.
Clarification
Shukla denies rift among key team members
Specifically denying any rift between chief selector Ajit Agarkar, head coach Gautam Gambhir, and captain Rohit Sharma, Shukla said, "Completely wrong statement to be made. No rift between coach and selection chairman. No rift between coach and captain." He was responding to media speculation about internal conflicts within the team after their recent loss.
Performance issues
Shukla addresses concerns over player form
Shukla also addressed concerns over the recent dip in performance of key players like Rohit and Virat Kohli. He attributed it to natural phases in sports, saying, "When you play sport, being in form, being not in form happens. These are phases of life." His comments came amid growing concerns over the team's performance after their defeat.
Squad selection
BCCI to finalize squad for ICC Champions Trophy
Shukla confirmed that the selection committee and secretary will finalize the squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy by January 18 or 19. The tournament is scheduled to be held from February 19 to March 9 and will be hosted across Pakistan and the UAE under a hybrid model. India's campaign begins against Bangladesh on February 20, with their final league match slated against New Zealand on March 2.