Rohit Sharma Warns Against Basing World Cup Selections on IPL 2019 Performance

Indian vice captain, Rohit Sharma has issued a warning against using IPL 2019 as a tool to gauge a player’s performance for the World Cup. Instead, he believes that selection should be based on form in the last four years.

The 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup is set to kick off barely two weeks after the conclusion of IPL 2019. Fortunately, India do have some respite, with their match on the 5th of June.

Rohit Sharma said, “I personally think IPL should not be criteria for selection. You can’t select a 50 overs team based on a 20 overs franchise competition. Yes form matters. But we have played enough ODI cricket over the last year to know who stands where,”

His own position on the team is sort of guaranteed as an opening batsman and the vice captain.

Rohit Sharma is also aware that team selection rests on the captain’s shoulders, namely Virat Kohli. He knows this, especially since Rohit Sharma has experience captaining the Mumbai Indians IPL franchise.

In conclusion, Rohit Sharma said,?”I think we are pretty much settled. There are a few spots (undecided) which everyone knows about but again that depends on what the captain and the coach and the selectors think whether they want to go for the extra seamer or the extra spinner or extra middle order player or a reserve opener.”

“It also depends upon the conditions. The last time we were in England, the conditions were quite dry. I don?t know how things will be. So if it is like that than you take an extra spinner, as simple as that. If it’s not then probably take the extra seamer.”

He stressed on the need to keep the playing conditions in England, in mind. Former England cricketer, Kevin Pietersen agreed with Rohit Sharma in terms of the weather in England, saying that that will be a critical factor in deciding lineups.