The selection committee of the BCCI, led by Ajit Agarkar, convened on Saturday at a hotel in Mumbai to finalize the T20I squad for the forthcoming five-match home series against England. Additionally, they deliberated on the future of senior batsmen Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, following the criticism directed at them after India's unprecedented home defeat to New Zealand and the 1-3 series loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

As reported by the Hindustan Times, the future of Kohli and Rohit was a key topic during the BCCI review meeting, which included head coach Gautam Gambhir, the Indian captain, Agarkar, BCCI secretary-elect Devajit Saikia, and newly-elected ICC Chairman Jay Shah, who was invited due to his previous review following the loss to New Zealand.

The report indicated that while BCCI officials have left the decision regarding Rohit and Kohli to the selectors, Agarkar and his committee are concerned about the declining performance of the 37-year-old in Test cricket. Rohit has managed to score only 164 runs in his last eight Test matches, with just one half-century. Notably, he accumulated 31 runs across five innings in Australia, averaging a mere 6.2.

The report further stated that Rohit’s assertion of “I am not going anywhere” does not necessarily dictate the final outcome. While selectors are apprehensive about Rohit’s declining statistics in Test cricket, it is understood that the captain will make a thoughtful decision at the appropriate moment.

Virat Kohli's fate depends on Shubman Gill

Kohli has faced criticism for his performance during the series against Australia and New Zealand. Aside from a century in Perth, the former captain of India accumulated only 90 additional runs, resulting in a disappointing tour of Australia.

While the selectors are expressing concern regarding Kohli's current form, it has been reported that his future selection will largely hinge on Shubman Gill's performance in the lead-up to India's next Test series, which is scheduled in England for late June.

"Given that the five-Test series against England is still five months away, the selectors are expected to deliberate on the situation before reaching a conclusion. Shubman Gill has not yet adapted to the role previously held by Kohli, falling short of the readiness Kohli exhibited when Sachin Tendulkar retired. This factor will be taken into account by Agarkar’s selection committee," the report indicated.

Gill's performance in the series against Australia was also lacking, as he managed only 93 runs across five innings, averaging 18.60 without scoring a fifty. Since his remarkable performance at the Gabba during the 2020/21 tour, the young player's form outside of Asia has come under scrutiny, with only 233 runs in 14 innings at an average of 17.92 and no half-centuries.

Read Also: Rohit Sharma Confirms He'll Stay as India Test Captain, Challenges BCCI to Find His Successor

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