Kohli, Rohit retiring from T20I cricket, but playing IPL puzzles me: Patil

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Sandeep Patil, ex-chairman of selectors when India last hosted the T20 World Cup, continues to be surprised as to why Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma don’t figure in India’s current World Cup squad through their retirements from the shortest form of the game.

“It puzzles me. Two greats, two legends, retire from the T20 format, but they are available to play the Indian Premier League (IPL). I don’t understand… they could have played T20 cricket for India and figured in the IPL. That would be something we all would’ve accepted,” Patil told an audience at a Cricket, Cocktails, and Controversy fireside chat with journalist Ayaz Memon, organised by The Indus Club, BKC on Saturday evening.

Patil’s utterances related to Kohli and Rohit emerged after he was asked about Shubman Gill not being part of the World Cup squad. He defended Ajit Agarkar’s selection committee. “I feel sad for Gill, but he just doesn’t find a place in this team. Who are you going to drop? While discussing selection, we only talk about players, but we should also look at combinations,” said Patil.

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