'Guys need a mental break': Agarkar defends Virat and Rohit resting ahead of World Cup

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a 15-member squad for the three-match ODI series against Australia, starting September 22. Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and chief selector Ajit Agarkar held a press conference to unveil the squads for the ODI series. The first two matches of the series will have a different squad than the final ODI, which will see the return of all the key players including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Hardik Pandya. KL Rahul has been named the captain for the first two games. 

3 things you need to know

• India will play Australia in a three-match ODI series
• KL Rahul will captain the side in the first two matches
• Rohit Sharma and the rest of the players will return for the 3rd game

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Agarkar defends the absence of Kohli, Rohit from the first two ODIs

India's chief selector Ajit Agarkar has defended the decision to rest Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the first two ODIs against Australia. Agarkar has said that the "guys needed a mental break" after a hectic Asia Cup campaign. He further added that the rested players have already played a fair amount of cricket before the World Cup. The ODI series against Australia will take place from September 22 to 27. 

"Rohit and Virat have been around, Hardik is important, we want to manage them. Luckily we got a fair amount of cricket in the Asia Cup. The guys need a mental break. Come the third game, everybody will be available. We want to play the guys who have been around. The Asia Cup helped us give a chance to younger guys," Agarkar said at the press conference on Monday. 

Team India's squads for Australia ODI series

India's squad for 1st & 2nd ODIs: KL Rahul (Captain & WK), Ravindra Jadeja (Vice-captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Shardul Thakur, Washington Sundar, R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna

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India's squad for 3rd ODI: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Hardik Pandya (Vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel*, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj

Image: Hotstar/AP