Rohit Sharma On Lack Of All-Rounders Like Yuvraj Singh – India will be hosting an ODI World Cup after 12 years. The last time they did, MS Dhoni’s sixer sealed a 28-year-long wait.
This time, India would be looking to end another wait: their 10-year ICC title drought. India were knocked out in the semi-finals of the last two ODI World Cups, in 2015 by Australia and in 2019 by New Zealand.
One of the main players for India’s win in the 2011 World Cup at home was Yuvraj Singh. While Yuvraj had generally been seen as a batter who can bowl a few overs until 2011, but come the World Cup in Indian conditions, Yuvraj turned into a proper all-rounder and regularly delivered 7-10 overs.
Yuvraj bowled 10 overs in four out of the 9 matches in the 2011 World Cup, including in all three knockout matches. All this while batting at number 4. India also had Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, and Raina to chip in with a few overs, this luxury allowed MS Dhoni to play an extra batsman in the side.
This luxury, however, is not afforded to the current captain Rohit Sharma. None of India’s top 5 – Rohit, Gill, Kohli, Iyer, and KL Rahul – bowl any overs. This has also meant that India have to play an extra bowler, and this also meant that India cannot play both Kuldeep and Chahal together; Chahal is now dropped also.
Jo hain, usi sey kaam chalana padega: Rohit Sharma
In the press conference in which the Asia Cup 2023 squad was announced, Rohit Sharma was asked about the lack of all-rounders in his team.
Rohit Sharma, in his typical manner, tackled this question, saying that he has to work only with the players who he has at his disposal.
“Aap k pass jo hain, usi sey kaam chalana padega! (We can only do the job with those available”.
“2011 team had players who could bat & bowl, this time around, we have to work with players we have for the World Cup, we cannot overnight create players who can bowl”.
Rohit Sharma gave another hilarious comment saying that you me see him and Kohli also roll their arms over. “Rohit and Kohli will bowl!” This also cracked up Ajit Agarkar and the media personnel in the room.
India squad for Asia Cup 2023: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (VC), Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Prasidh Krishna, Sanju Samson (travelling backup)
