'Captain wanted Piyush Chawla, so Rohit Sharma got left out' - Former selector on batter's 2011 World Cup snub

In Indian cricket history, Rohit Sharma stands tall as a star whose batting prowess has lit up Indian cricket. Hitman's batting prowess has served both the Indian Cricket Team and his IPL team, Mumbai Indians, to remarkable victories. Yet, amid the memorable triumphs, a World Cup title has remained an untouchable glory in his cricketing career.

Back in 2011, a year when the cricketing world extolled the nation as India clinched the World Cup on home soil, a young 24-year-old Rohit Sharma was not included in the squad, missing the golden chance to etch his name into the tournament's history. 

This missed opportunity left the young prodigy sad but now, fast forward a dozen years, the tides of fate are set to bestow a second chance upon the current Indian skipper.

In a recent revelation during an exclusive interview with RevSportz, Raja Venkat, a former national selector from 2011, unveiled a surprising secret. As per Venkat, Rohit Sharma had secured a spot in the initial squad for the 2011 ODI World Cup but due to the captain's demand of a certain player, they had to remove Rohit from the final squad.

Recalling the selection process, Venkat disclosed, "When we were selecting the team, numbers 1-14, every name was accepted by the panel. No. 15, we suggested the name of Rohit Sharma. Gary Kirsten also felt it was a perfect selection. But the captain wanted Piyush Chawla. So immediately, Kirsten somersaulted. He said: ‘I think that’s a better choice.’ So, that is how Rohit Sharma got left out."

As the cricketing world gears up for the ICC World Cup 2023, which is scheduled to start on October 5 on Indian soil, Rohit Sharma, now the captain of the Indian team, would be looking forward to rewriting his World Cup story.