Former India cricketer Sandeep Patil has called out the omission of regular skipper Virat Kohli from Asia Cup 2018 squad at the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Meanwhile, the selectors have decided to give Kohli some rest after the gruelling tour to the UK. MSK Prasad-led panel left Kohli out to keep him fresh for the upcoming tour of Australia.
However, former selector Sandeep Patil feels Virat Kohli should have played the Asia Cup because of the game against Pakistan. Instead, he feels, the selectors should have rested Kohli for the series against Windies.
“The decision to rest Virat Kohli has already been taken but my question is whether selectors could have picked Virat for the Asia Cup and giving him rest instead during the home series against Windies that will follow,” Sandeep Patil wrote in The Quint.
Sandeep Patil can’t understand why the selectors rested Virat Kohli for the Asia cup which has Pakistan ties.
Patil cited the case of India’s legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev saying he also carried a lot of workloads. However, Patil continued that he never finished till he decided to bid farewell.
“Has cricket changed so much that today’s Indian players who are so fit and focused can’t take the workload? As the years passed by, different techniques and theories and workload management have come to the forefront,” Patil added.
Rohit Sharma has a big task ahead of him
Sandeep Patil also continued that stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma will have an uphill task at hand. He will have to get the balance right and opt for the right team combinations ahead of the Pakistan clash.
“Rohit now has a big task ahead of him – get the team together, get the balance right and pick the right combination. But he does not have time in his hand, he has to act fast,” Patil signed off.