Shastri explains Rohit’s omission from India squad

Australia
Rohit Sharma

India head coach Ravi Shastri has responded to criticism of his decision to leave Rohit Sharma out of his squad to tour to Australia because he does not believe the batsmen has fully recovered from injury.

Sharma has been out of action since midway through October after suffering a hamstring strain in an Indian Premier League match for the Mumbai Indians against Kings XI Punjab.

Rohit out in the cold

However, on the same day the squad was announced, Rohit was seen wearing pads and hitting balls in the nets at a Mumbai Indians training session, which left many confused when his name was not among the squad.

Shastri responded by stating he had no say over whether cricketers were allowed to play or not when it comes to health and fitness, and revealed the medical staff is concerned Rohit has not recovered enough and is at risky of making things worse if he is rushed back into action.

“It’s being handled by the people in charge of the medical part of it. We don’t get involved in that. They have submitted a report to the selectors and they have gone about their business,” he told Times Now.

“I have no say, neither am I a part of the selection. All I know is the medical report which says he could be in danger of injuring himself again if he is not careful.

“There is nothing more frustrating for a player than getting injured. Sometimes you know, you want to get out of that room of yours and try and see how quickly you can come back.

“And therein lies the grey area. Therein lies the problem where you want to go and play, you want to test yourself. But only you will know at the back of your mind whether you are 100%, whether there is a chance going at it again.

Speaking from experience

“What I fear, I have been through that as a cricketer myself. I finished my career in 1991 when I went back to Australia when I shouldn’t have. If I had taken a break for three or four months, I could’ve played five years longer for India.

“So, I speak from experience. It is a similar case. I wanted to go. Doctors told me don’t go. It was greed. I was in tremendous form so there was this eagerness to go back. I hope Rohit’s case is not that serious and the same with Ishant (Sharma).”

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