Former India batsman Virender Sehwag feels it's "harsh" on Rohit Sharma to not be picked in any of the squads for the tour to Australia despite it still being a month away.
Sehwag sought clarity on Rohit and the extent of his injury amidst confusion, as he hit the nets in Mumbai Indians (MI) gear on Monday (October 26) just hours after his exclusion from the nation's touring party.
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"During my playing days, when Srikkanth was the chairman of selectors, if a player was injured on the day of selection then he was not picked. But this is a long tour and Rohit Sharma is an important player, so if he has not been picked keeping in mind his injury status today then I guess it is a bit harsh on him," Sehwag said on Cricbuzz this Tuesday.
While BCCI said Rohit will continue to be monitored, there hasn't been any clear update from MI team management either. The question is being raised that if Rohit's injury is so severe that the selection panel can't pick him in October for a Test series starting December, why can't MI just confirm its status and how can he train while sustaining it?
"Even I have no update on Rohit Sharma’s injury status," Sehwag said. "The media should ask this question. Earlier it was told that he is unwell, if he is unwell then what is he doing inside the stadium. He was seen during both matches. If he is unwell then he should be on bed rest to recover as soon as possible. So, clearly he is not unwell."
"In that case the, franchise should give a statement about the nature of his injury. A video was shared by Mumbai Indians of him practicing, which clearly shows he is trying to get back to fitness but there needs to be a statement. These days you don’t even need a statement, he has his social media where he can just put a line about his condition," he added.
Upon Rohit's exclusion, the selectors have named KL Rahul as Virat Kohli's deputy in ODIs and T20Is, a role that Ajinkya Rahane plays in Tests.
India will play three ODIs, three T20Is and four Tests on their tour down under, starting November 27.
