Ajit Agarkar explains the reasoning behind Karun Nair's exclusion from India's Champions Trophy squad

India's squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy starting next month has been announced by BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar and skipper Rohit Sharma. The selection committee has made some daring choices while finalizing the 15-member squad, leaving out talented players like Mohammed Siraj and Sanju Samson. However, all eyes were on the exclusion of Karun Nair, who has been delivering exceptional performances in the domestic cricket arena.

Nair, who shifted his domestic cricket base to Vidarbha, has consistently performed in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy. The middle-order batter scored 752 runs in 7 matches, with an astonishing average of 752, which included five centuries.

Despite his astonishing numbers, Nair failed to make the cut as the selectors went ahead with KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant in the middle-order.

BCCI chief selector Agarkar acknowledged Nair's stellar average but asserted that it's extremely difficult to fit everyone into the squad.

“I mean, those are really special performances and I mean someone who averages about 700+, 750 + or something, we did have a chat, no doubt about it, when those kind of performances happen. At the moment, to find a spot in this team is very difficult,” Agarkar said in the press conference.

Nair's sensational exploits have powered Vidarbha into the tournament's final, where they will take on Karnataka on Saturday. Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar termed his performances "nothing short of extraordinary."

Agarkar further said that the ones who have been picked on the side also have an average of around 40 and performed consistently in the past.

"Look at the guys who've been picked, all average were in excess of mid-40s. Unfortunately, you can't fit everyone in. It's a squad of 15, but those performances certainly make you take notice," he added.

Mohammed Shami returns to ODIs

Mohammed Shami has made a comeback to the ODI squad after the 50-over World Cup in 2023. Harshit Rana has been picked to play only the England series.

The selection committee chose Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul as the two wicketkeeper's choice in the team while Samson who have performed emphatically well in T20Is failed to make the cut.

The eight-team tournament will feature 15 50-over matches and will be played across Pakistan and in Dubai. The biggest match of the tournament between two arch-rivals India and Pakistan will be played on February 23 in Dubai. India will start its campaign against Bangladesh on February 20. India's last league match will be against New Zealand on March 2.

India Squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana (only for England series).

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