Last Updated on 8 hours ago by Charbel Coorey
Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has explained why selectors shouldn’t drop senior batters like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma when both the players are keen on continuing to play international cricket.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin referred to the credentials of both the players and the huge following they command. He says the decision to leave out either Kohli or Rohit is one that has consequences beyond the cricketing numbers.
Ashwin Explains Why Kohli and Rohit Cannot Be Easily Dropped
Ashwin said that the records built by the two former India captains make their positions different from those of other players. Rohit has scored almost 12,000 ODI runs, while Virat is 59 away from 15,000. Both players have built huge fan bases over the years.
“They cannot touch Virat and Rohit if they want to play. It is because of their credentials. Rohit has scored almost 12,000 runs; they cannot touch him. The other thing is that they are batters, and if you touch them, they have an army. People come to see them. If you drop them, it will just break the roof down,” Ashwin said, as quoted by Indian Express.
The comments came after Rohit produced a special innings at Lord’s, where his performance came amid significant pressure following a lean run of form and speculation the match would be his last.
RELATED: “Look at Messi” – Mohammad Kaif says India need Rohit and Virat for 2027 ODI World Cup
Veteran Spinner Heaps Praise On Rohit’s Lord’s Knock
Before his Lord’s effort, Rohit Sharma had played eight innings this year without making a significant contribution. But the seasoned opener replied with a hundred which once again underlined his capacity to perform when the chips are down and critics are at their loudest.
Ashwin said, “This is a phenomenal knock. He was set after hitting that pull to Josh Tongue. I feel that this is Rohit’s road to a comeback after an injury. If he were in a slightly better state or were more confident, he could have scored 180 and won the match for the team. I felt like Rohit was in really good form.
“The position he is in and the way he batted, it’s not that difficult for him. We have seen him for so many years; there’s nothing left to prove. Whom does he have to prove? It is only about the internal appetite: I want to go to the World Cup, that’s why I need to play like this,” Ashwin added.
For More Such News & Updates Follow: CricBlog
