With just over one month to go for the start of the ODI World Cup in India, final preparations are being made by the participating teams, including the finalisation of squads and tactics.
As far as India is concerned, it is likely that the World Cup squad will be announced on Sunday, 3 September, a day after India's Asia Cup opener against Pakistan.
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When announcing the squad for the Asia Cup, chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar did say that the World Cup squad would be chosen from roughly the same pool of players.
With 18 chosen for the Asia Cup and a squad of only 15-strong allowed for the World Cup, it is likely that three players will be cut from the current squad.
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"We talk face-to-face to dropped players" - Rohit Sharma
Indian captain Rohit Sharma spoke about these details and difficulties in an interview on Monday. Having not made the cut for the 2011 World Cup-winning squad, he personally knows the pain of being excluded from the side. 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 why they have not been picked."
Rohit understands that clear communication is important with respect to dropped players, as they deserve an explanation for why they are not part of the team.
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He went on to say that coaches, captains and selectors are also human beings and are 'bound to make mistakes', before clarifying that captaincy is not a matter of likes or dislikes but of calculated thinking.
“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 clarified.
When is Team India's next match?
India will be in action next in the Asia Cup, as they play arch-rivals Pakistan in Pallekele on Saturday, 2 September.
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