Ex-Selector reveals why Rohit Sharma was not picked in the 2011 World Cup squad 

MS Dhoni wanted a leg spinner ahead of Rohit Sharma.

Ex-Selector reveals why Rohit Sharma was not picked in the 2011 World Cup squad 

Rohit with MS Dhoni (image via Sportstar)

Ex-selector, Raja Venkat, revealed that MS Dhoni did not want Rohit Sharma in the 2011 World Cup squad. Speaking to Revsport, Raja Venkat talked about the selection process for the 2011 World Cup and how Rohit was in their plans but ultimately Dhoni decided that a different player would be worth it. 

Venkat spoke about how 14 players had been picked, but the decision between the 15th was between Rohit and Piyush Chawla. The selectors Srikant, Mohinder Amarnath, Surendra Bhave, Narendra Hirwani and Raja Venkat had decided on Rohit as the 15th player. Even head coach Gary Kirsten agreed with the selection. 

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MS Dhoni wanted a leg spinner in the side and then chose Piyush Chawla. Gary Kirsten agreed with him and the Selection Committee had no choice but to select him. Chawla played 3 games in the World Cup, picking up 4 wickets. Since the World Cup, Chwala has not played a single ODI for India.

Related: Yuzvendra Chahal uses Rohit Sharma’s old tweet to post a cryptic message on social media after 2023 Asia Cup snub

Rohit Sharma to lead India in 2023 ODI World Cup 

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Rohit Sharma captaining the T20I team (image via getty)

After getting dropped in the 2011 World Cup, Rohit found his place in the Indian team by changing his role to an opener in 2013. Since the switch, he’s become one of the best batters in the world. He has scored over 7800 runs as an opener and fixed his spot in the team. 

In 2013, Rohit replaced Ricky Ponting as the captain of the IPL team Mumbai Indians and has won them 5 IPL Trophies. Thanks to his stellar performance as captain, Rohit became the T20I Captain in 2021 and in 2022 he replaced Virat Kohli as the ODI and Test Captain as well.

He has won 20 games out of 27 as ODI captain and will now lead India in his first ODI tournament as captain in the Asia Cup. 2 weeks after that he will captain India in the 2023 World Cup.

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