'There Is No Way Rohit Should Have Not Played Against WI' - Former Chief Selector Slams Team For Dropping Rohit Sharma For West Indies Tests
Updated - 08 Oct 2019, 07:01 PM
Rohit Sharma made a glittering start to his Test career as an opener as he scored twin centuries in his first Test in that role. Opening the innings with Mayank Agarwal, Rohit scored 176 in the first innings and followed up with 127 the second innings, also putting up a partnership of 317 in the first innings.
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Rohit would have never opened in the opening Test had KL Rahul retained his spot in the squad but for his poor form.
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India’s white-ball vice-captain wasn’t given a chance in the playing XI during the West Indies as Hanuma Vihari was preferred over him. All this came after he had scored five centuries at World Cup 2019.
India legend and former chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar has slammed the team for dropping Rohit during WI series and has said that he Rohit must have ben upset with the decision to sit out.
“He is a top-class player, one of the best batsmen in the world. And he has now scored two hundreds in one Test match. He is an exceptional talent. You have to back someone like him. You have to have that instinct. But then, what do you expect from selectors who have not played much Test cricket?” he told Mumbai Mirror.
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“There was no way Rohit should have not played the Test series in the West Indies after his incredible run at the World Cup this year. Getting dropped from the Test side in the West Indies must have been very humiliating for him. How can you drop someone after he has got five hundred in a World Cup? I still cannot understand that. He must have been a very upset man,” Vengsarkar added.
Rohit had made his Test debut with two centuries against West Indies in two-Test series but was never a consistent member in the playing XI. After making his comeback for Australia tour last year, he was surprisingly picked ahead of Hanuma Vihari in the squad for firs Test but had to return home for the fourth game.
When India played their first Test seven months (in West Indies), there was no place for Rohit.
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This led to experts asking for giving Rohit a chance as an opener and the punt proved to be successful as he shone in his first outing in that role. It is confirmed that he will play remaining four Tests at home but will be challenged when India tour New Zealand next ear.
India have not been able to find suitable openers since in the past couple of years and the team management would hope that Rohit and Mayank solve team India’s long-standing problem.
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India Indian National Cricket Team Rohit Sharma