On Thursday, the Indian skipper, Virat Kohli acknowledged that there was a lot of “confusion and lack of clarity” regarding Rohit Sharma’s injury which had led to the team management playing a “waiting game” on his availability which is not ideal. Answering media queries online ahead of the ODI series against Australia starting on Friday, Virat said Rohit was said to be unavailable before the selection committee meeting earlier this month.
The Indian skipper explained, “Before the selection meeting, we got a mail that he is unavailable, that he has picked up an injury during the IPL. It said that the pros and cons of the injury were explained to him and he understood and he was unavailable.”
Kohli’s perception did open a Pandora’s box about whether he and Rohit have been communicating on various sensitive issues pertaining to the team. Rohit is currently going through rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru but a 14-day hard quarantine (without training) would rule him out of the Test series, starting December 17.
ALSO READ: Australia vs India (1st ODI) – Fantasy XI Predictions For The Game
Talking about the same, Kohli explained, “After that (the selection meeting) he played in the IPL and we all thought he would be on that flight to Australia and we had no information on why he is not traveling with us. There has been no information, there has been a lack of clarity. The only other information we got is that he is in NCA and he is being assessed and he will again be assessed on 11th December. It’s not ideal at all.”
In fact, Kohli just like it has been reported said that now Rohit and fast bowler, Ishant Sharma, who is recovering from a side strain, arriving in Australia is not certain given the strict 14-day quarantine enforcement here.
Taling about the injuries, Virat said, “Right now, there is so much uncertainty and whether they are going to make it and if they are going to make it at all or not.”
Kohli said that just like Wriddhiman Saha, it would have been ideal for both Rohit and Ishant Sharma to do their rehab program under national team trainer Nick Webb and physio Nitin Patel in Australia itself.
ALSO READ: Australia vs India (1st ODI) – Probable Playing XIs For The Game
Virat Kohli elaborated, “Yeah, that would have definitely increased their chances of both of them playing Test matches. Someone like Saha is doing his rehab and we are aware of his progress and he is on the right path to be available in time to play Test series…It would have given them (Rohit and Ishant) a chance to get themselves fit from the start of the Test series. It definitely would have been very helpful if they would have been here to do the rehab.”
