Captaincy is not based on personal likes and dislikes – Rohit Sharma opens up on Indian team selection

The Asia Cup commences on August 30, but Indian cricket fans will have to wait until September 2nd, when the Men in Blue take on Pakistan in a much-awaited clash of the arch rivals. However, before they take to the field for the first time, there have been a lot of discussions about who should be in and out of the team.

With a star-studded Indian squad available for selection, the team management will have their task cut out to pick the best XI. Addressing the questions on selection, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma opened up on how himself and head coach Rahul Dravid have picked the squad ahead of the continental extravaganza.

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 about why they have not been picked.”

He further added, “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."

Rohit also expressed his sympathy with the ones who didn’t make the cut for the continental fray, stating his own example from the 2011 World Cup, “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?”

India commence their Asia Cup campaign on September 2nd, before they take on Nepal two days later, on September 4th.