Current chief selector of the India senior men’s team Ajit Agarkar has expressed that standout batter Virat Kohli has established a high standard of fitness for prolonged success at the international level, setting him apart from his peers.
Kohli is presently leading the charts for most run-scorers in IPL 2024. The run-machine has accumulated 316 runs in just five matches so far in the tournament. It also includes an impressive unbeaten innings of 113.
What Agarkar said on Kohli
“The good thing is you have a huge pool to pick from now. There is no dearth of talent in India. One thing that is a big difference, and you can see it over the last 10-15 years, is the progress in the fitness levels of players. Because of this, they can learn much quicker,” Agarkar expressed in an episode of SportifywithPRG podcast.
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“Virat Kohli for example is one of those guys who set a benchmark. And 15 years into his career, he’s only gotten fitter. If someone like him, sets an example and puts forward certain things that you need or certain fitness levels that you need, gradually it progresses across the ecosystem,” he added.
Agarkar highlights IPL importance
Meanwhile, the former India cricketer also emphasized the significant role of the IPL in recognizing and fostering talented players from the country on a grand scale. “You can see every year, the IPL just keeps throwing up fresh talent. As a selector there are certain players, we are watching out for but there are certain players who suddenly come and show up even on a big stage. It is a big stage because of the pressure involved and the big crowds. You might be bowling to the top batters in the world or facing one of the top bowlers, this is where you can judge the temperament of the player and how consistently he can do it,” Agarkar said.
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Agarkar highlights importance of data in selection process
In the contemporary cricketing landscape, there is a growing trend towards adopting a data-centric approach. Agarkar highlighted the importance of data in the selection process, emphasizing its value. However, he also maintained that it was essential to also consider gut instincts and performance under pressure in cricket.
“The amount of data that’s available, is incredible. You can plan a whole innings and I think everybody does it now, but it doesn’t mean it will work all the time. You need a captain on the ground because not everything that you’ve planned is going to go your way. On a particular day it might, but most days it won’t. And that’s where you need human instinct. That’s why you call MS Dhoni a great captain because he had a feel for the game. He knew what was happening and how the game was changing,” expressed Agarkar.
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“You can have all the numbers at your disposal, but if you have not watched the player, it is difficult. As a coach, captain, or selector you don’t form an opinion about anyone until you see them play and how they are under pressure,” the BCCI chief selector opined.
