‘While picking the best combination, there will be…’ – Rohit Sharma on Team selection headaches for Asia Cup 2023

Team India are all set to begin their Asia Cup 2023 campaign on 2 September against arch-rivals Pakistan. Now, on the eve of this epic clash, Rohit Sharma attended the pre-match press conference and while speaking to the reporters, he opened up on the team selection headaches he and head coach Rahul Dravid have in this tournament. 

Rohit said: “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.” 

“If anyone misses out, there is a reason for it.” – Rohit Sharma

Rohit also claimed that captaincy is not possible based on personal likes and dislikes. Hence, if a player unfortunately misses a chance to play, then the team management including him has nothing to do about it. “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,” he further added. 

However, this tournament will work as a great platform for them to get prepared for the upcoming ODI World Cup, starting in October in India. Rohit was not a part of the squad that won the ODI World Cup way back in 2011 in India. So, he opened up about that World Cup snub and claimed it was a heart-breaking moment for him. “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?” Rohit Sharma concluded.