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'Why Has It Come This Far?' - Ashwin Demands Clarity For Rohit And Kohli Ahead Of 2027 ODI WC

ODI World Cup: Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has strongly questioned the team management and national selectors over the prolonged uncertainty on future of veteran batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, and has demanded immediate clarity for the duo ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup. IANS had reported that the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee were unlikely to pick Rohit in the ODI format after the third and final game of the series, currently tied at 1-1, at Lords in London on Sunday. Ashwin also stated that if the decision-makers had already resolved to move past the legendary pair for the upcoming mega event in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, the roadmap should have been explicitly communicated to them immediately after India's Champions Trophy triumph in March 2025. Yashasvi Jaiswal is pushing hard from behind. But if, as a selector, coach, captain or whoever the decision-maker is - if youve already decided in your mind that these players are not going to the 2027 World Cup, and you dont want them then that should have been communicated immediately after the Champions Trophy. I know its a double-edged sword, Ashwin said on his YouTube show Ash Ki Baat. Acknowledging that being phased out is never easy for any cricketer, Ashwin stated that transparent communication remains vital to prevent senior players from feeling unwanted in the dressing room. If you go and tell players that you want to move on from them, no player will feel good about it. Even if the selectors or the coach had come to me in Australia and said, We want to move past you. Were done with you. I would also have felt bad. Id think, One bad series is that enough? Every player is allowed one poor series. Thats how every player would feel. But once its done, you can at least say, Okay the communication was clear, he observed. Questioning the timing of the current uncertainty, Ashwin expressed bewilderment over why the situation has been allowed to linger with less than a year left for the global events commencement. Maybe it has already happened in Rohits case. Maybe it has happened in Virats case. Virat has been excellent. Rohit has been more than decent. So why have we allowed this to drag on until August 2026 when there are only 10-12 months left before the 2027 World Cup in South Africa? Why has it come this far? Thats my only question. Questioning the timing of the current uncertainty, Ashwin expressed bewilderment over why the situation has been allowed to linger with less than a year left for the global events commencement. Also Read: Live Cricket Score If youre in a house where people dont want you to stay, can you really live comfortably in that house? Were going to South Africa in September-October. Do we need Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma? If you ask me, I would want that experience, concluded Ashwin. Article Source: IANS