‘Team Mein Aap Kyu…’: Rohit Sharma’s Australia Tour Selection Comes Under Scrutiny | Cricket News

Rohit Sharma was sacked as India’s ODI captain

Former India cricketer Saba Karim has said that Ajit Agarkar & Co. shouldn’t have selected Rohit Sharma for the upcoming Australia tour, reasoning that if he isn’t the captain for the ODI series, it means the selection committee isn’t looking at him for the 2027 World Cup.

Karim raised concerns about the selection committee’s long-term strategy for the 2027 World Cup.

Karim, who has held several administrative roles, including national selector and BCCI General Manager of Cricket Operations, didn’t hold back in criticising what he perceives as inconsistent planning by the current management.

Karim has said that if the selectors believe Rohit would not play in the 2027 World Cup, they should clearly define his role in the side in the meantime.

“Team mein aap kyon rakh rahe hain?” (Why are you keeping him in the team?). Agar woh captain nahin hain to phir ek baat saaf hai na ki aap unka future dekh nahi rahe ki wo 2027 ke World Cup mein rahenge, to phir aap aise khiladi ko team mein nahin rakhiye jo aapko lagta hain ki 2027 mein aapke hisaab se maujood nahin rahenge,” Karim said. (If he isn’t captaining, then it’s clear that you don’t see his future. You don’t feel that he will be a part of the 2027 World Cup. So, don’t keep a player whom you don’t feel would be a part of the 2027 World Cup.)

Notably, India’s ODI captaincy change came as Agarkar highlighted the importance of giving new captain Shubman Gill sufficient time to prepare for the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Agarkar pointed to the limited ODI calendar and the challenge of managing three different skippers across formats as key reasons for the decision.

Rohit is the only skipper, besides former India captain MS Dhoni, to lead India to three ICC white-ball finals, bagging the T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy titles, while finishing as runner-up in the ODI World Cup as well.