IPL performance may fetch ticket to T20 WC squad: Srikkanth

Cuttack (PTI): Performance in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) will be taken into consideration for picking the Indian squad for this year's ICC World Twenty20, chairman of selectors Krishnamachari Srikkanth said here on Wednesday.

"We all will be watching the IPL. The performance there will be the benchmark (to pick the Indian squad for second edition of the T20 World Cup)," said the former India captain, who is here to watch the final of the Deodhar Trophy between West Zone and East Zone.

India will defend its title in the second edition of the ICC World Twenty20 to be held in England in June this year and Srikkanth said the selectors job would be to improve the bench strength.

"We are watching the domestic matches closely. This (Deodhar Trophy) being the season-ender, it's a very important tournament. We have a very good bench strength in batting.

There's good balance in bowling. The main idea is to watch more domestic matches and create a pool of youngsters," said Srikkanth, who was accompanied by fellow selectors Yashpal Sharma from North Zone and East's Raja Venkat.

Asked about Sachin Tendulkar's recent comment, which described the present Indian team as the best ever, Srikkanth, a member of Kapil's Devils that won the World Cup in 1983 said, "This team indeed has the best batting line-up. They are good in all departments."