David Lloyd reacts after Rohit Sharma says India will give opportunity 'only to players who have that hunger'

English commentator David Lloyd has reacted to India captain Rohit Sharma‘s recent remarks about the players who will get the preference from the team management.

The India skipper was asked about it during the post-match press conference after the fourth Test against England in Ranchi. Rohit Sharma made the comments after the BCCI issued a stern warning to the players against undermining the importance of domestic cricket, especially first-class competition.

Recently, BCCI secretary Jay Shah warned that the players will face severe implications if they skip Test matches and domestic games to keep themselves ready for the IPL. In recent times, the likes of Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer have faced criticism for not representing their state teams despite not being a part of the Indian team.

David Lloyd reacts to Rohit Sharma’s comments:

Rohit Sharma did not take any name but made it clear that the team management will pick players who are passionate about Test cricket. He said that the team will give opportunity ‘only to players who have that hunger’ of playing red-ball cricket. In a dig at players who don’t prefer Test cricket, Rohit Sharma also said that such players are easily recognizable.

“This [Test cricket] is the toughest format. And if you want success and want to excel in this tough format then you need that hunger. It is very important. We will give opportunity only to players who have that hunger. You come to know [easily] the players who don’t have that hunger, [or] players who don’t want to stay here [and play this format]. We come to know that.

“Players who have that hunger, players who want to stay here and perform, [and] play in tough conditions, we will give preference to them. Obviously, it is pretty simple: if you don’t have hunger, there’s no meaning playing such players,” said Rohit Sharma.

With Rohit Sharma insisting that only ‘hungry’ players will be preferred for the Test team, David Lloyd has reacted to it. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the veteran commentator said that he liked the comment from the India skipper, writing: “I do like that from Sharma”

I do like that from Sharma https://t.co/80rgtic3rp

— David 'Bumble' Lloyd (@BumbleCricket) February 26, 2024

Meanwhile, India have clinched the ongoing five-match series against England with a match remaining. The hosts beat the visitors by five wickets in the fourth Test to go 3-1 in the series. The fifth and final Test is scheduled to be played from March 7 in Dharamsala.