Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma warned despite Australia selection: 'Picked because of ...'
Former Indian chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar has expressed reservations about re-selecting Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for India’s upcoming ODI series against Australia, citing difficulty in evaluating their current form and fitness. Since both players now commit only to One-Day Internationals—having retired from T20Is and Tests—their long absence from international matches raises questions over how well they can perform. While the BCCI’s selection committee confirmed they cleared mandatory fitness tests, Vengsarkar argues that their legendary past may have influenced their inclusion more than their recent form. The forthcoming Australia tour will be pivotal, he adds, in deciding whether they remain in India’s plans through the 2027 ODI World Cup. According to Vengsarkar, selectors must weigh whether to persist with veteran names or invest in players available across formats to build the team’s future.
The Key points
- Dilip Vengsarkar voices concern over Kohli and Rohit’s selection for the Australia ODIs.
- He contends that assessing their match readiness is challenging after a long break.
- Both players now exclusively represent India in ODI format, having quit Tests and T20Is.
- Their inclusion may owe more to past reputations than recent performances.
- The selection committee asserts both cleared mandatory pre-season fitness tests.
- That said, selection for the series does not assure future involvement.
- The Australia tour will be a litmus test for their continued relevance.
- Their performances could influence India’s squad plans toward the 2027 ODI World Cup.
- Vengsarkar suggests focusing on players who are available in all formats.
- He leaves the final decision to the selectors, urging strategic foresight.
Disclaimer: This preview includes title, image, and description automatically sourced from the original website (timesofindia.indiatimes.com) using publicly available metadata / OG tags. All rights, including copyright and content ownership, remain with the original publisher. If you are the content owner and wish to request removal, please contact us from your official email to no_reply@newspaperhunt.com.
