IND vs PAK: Rohit Sharma Assures No Bias In Indian Selection For Big Tournaments Like Asia Cup And ICC World Cup

India captain Rohit Sharma has said that he and other members of the team management have tried their best to explain to the players the reason behind their non-inclusion in the squad for the upcoming Asia Cup.

The Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel has named a 17-member squad for the continental championship. In addition to the 17 players, Sanju Samson will travel to Sri Lanka as a reserve wicketkeeper. Several notable names like Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravichandran Ashwin, Umran Malik, and a few others have failed to make the cut for the Asia Cup.

At least three players from the 18-man Asia Cup squad will face disappointment in the coming days when the World Cup squad is announced. With only 15 players allowed in the World Cup squad, a minimum of three members of the Asia Cup contingent will face the axe. There could be more exclusions if the selectors and the team management decide to select a player who is not in the Asia Cup squad.

It would not be easy for Rohit Sharma and others to explain to the heartbroken players the reason behind their failure to make it to the World Cup squad. The India captain, however, is keeping things simple and has revealed that he and the coach have made sure to communicate with the players after their exclusion from the team.

“While picking the best combination, there will be guys who will miss out for various reasons and Rahul bhai (Dravid) and I have tried our best to explain to the players why they are not in the squad.”

“We have tried to communicate with the players after every selection and playing XI that has been announced. We talk to them face to face, one-on-one why they have not been picked,” Rohit Sharma said ahead of the team’s departure to Sri Lanka.

“Sometimes, I try and put myself in their shoes. When I wasn’t picked in 2011, it was such a heart-breaking moment for me and I felt what’s left after being dropped from a World Cup squad?”

“Me, coaches, and selectors, take into account all factors like opposition, surfaces, our strengths, their weaknesses, and then reach a common ground. There is every chance that we will not be perfect always. At the end of the day, few individuals make decisions, and we are bound to make mistakes as humans. We won’t always be right” he added.

Speaking further, Rohit Sharma said that bias has no place in his decision-making, saying: “It’s not like, I don’t like this person, so I am dropping him. Captaincy is not based on personal likes and dislikes. If anyone misses out, there is a reason for it. If you are the unlucky one, we can do nothing.”

Rohit Sharma shares his own experience:

Rohit Sharma also shared his own experience when he was left heartbroken after being ignored for the 2011 World Cup at home. The star batsman was widely expected to make it to the squad but the selectors and the team management eventually picked leg-spinner Piyush Chawla ahead of him.

“I was sad and sitting in my room and didn’t know what to do next. I remember Yuvi (Yuvraj Singh) calling me to his room and taking me out for dinner.

“He explained to me how it feels when you are left out. He told me, ‘the best thing is that you have so many years in-front of you. As we play in the World Cup, you take this chance to work hard on your game, skills and make a comeback. There is no way that you won’t play for India or not get a chance to play in the World Cup’,” recalled Rohit Sharma.

“I went back to the drawing board, worked hard and immediately after the World Cup, I made a comeback and it has been good since then. Since this is me, who has gone through this emotion, no one can tell me that “easier said than done”,” he added. “I have faced exclusion in a World Cup, and I know how it exactly feels.”

Meanwhile, India will open their campaign in the Asia Cup later this week. While the Asia Cup will begin on August 30, the Men in Blue will play their first game on September 2 against arch-rivals Pakistan in Pallekele.