Rohit Sharma is aware of the immense pressure of a home World Cup and aims to focus on the journey towards winning India’s first ICC trophy in a decade. As the Indian captain, he understands the weight of expectations and is prepared for the challenge of the ODI World Cup starting on October 5.
His composure shone through as he conveyed his perspective in a straightforward manner during an interview, much like the serene face of his bat as it connects with a bowler’s back-drive.
Recalling the previous edition of the tournament, he shared, “I was in an excellent mental state and had diligently prepared for the event.” His performance in that edition was remarkable, amassing a total of 648 runs and achieving an extraordinary five centuries, establishing himself as the top run-scorer.
Rohit Sharma’s leadership achievements include securing five IPL titles as the captain of Mumbai Indians, clinching the Asia Cup title while captaining India in 2018, and guiding the team to the World Test Championship final in June of this year.
Rohit Sharma mentioned that while selecting the best lineup, certain individuals might not be included due to different factors.
He explained that both he and Rahul Dravid have endeavored to provide clear explanations to the players who haven’t made the squad. He further emphasized that they have consistently maintained open communication with the players, engaging in face-to-face discussions to elaborate on the reasons behind non-selection after each squad announcement and playing XI decision.
Rohit Sharma mentioned that he occasionally endeavors to understand their perspective. Reflecting on his personal experience in 2011 when he wasn’t chosen, he shared that the moment was incredibly disheartening for him. He gained insight into the emotions that follow being excluded from a World Cup squad.
Meanwhile, part of the Indian cricket fraternity is also taking a dig at the Indian captain for selecting young Tilak Varma in the squad for the Asia Cup 2023 despite never playing in the ODI format before and has been picked after his performance in the T20I series vs West Indies.
Since Tilak Varma plays for Rohit Sharma led Mumbai Indians in the IPL, the fans are saying that Tilak got picked just because he plays for his Mumbai Indians team. Rohit Sharma also addressed the issue.
“I want to clarify that captaincy isn’t influenced by personal preferences. It’s not about disliking someone and then dropping them. Every decision has a reason behind it. If someone isn’t included, there’s a valid explanation. Sometimes, circumstances lead to unfortunate exclusion, and in such cases, our hands are tied,” explained the Indian captain before the much awaited Asia Cup 2023.
