'Ishan will also say, let me play, I am from Ranchi. But that is not how it works' - Rohit Sharma puts forth his views on stiff competition within Indian squad

Team India took on New Zealand in a three-match ODI series which the hosts won all the three games comfortably and were dominant in all departments of the game. India was missing a few mainstays of the ODI team in the form of Axar Patel and KL Rahul, who were out of the squad owing to family commitments. Shreyas Iyer too, didn’t start the series because of an injury.

As a result, it was a chance for players like Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav to make their opportunities count. They did not have a great series, and also could not do much to establish themselves in the team. In the post-match presser after the third ODI in Indore, captain Rohit Sharma was asked about the local boy, Rajat Patidar, not playing the final ODI despite being a dead-rubber game.

The Indian team has a whole host of options in almost every position in the team and it’s difficult to see everyone get a chance. The Indian skipper explained the situation of the players who missed out on getting a game.

The Hitman came up with a cheeky reply and said, “I know maybe we could have played him in Indore. In Ranchi, Ishan will also say, let me play, I am from Ranchi. But that is not how it works, we go according to some plans. Everyone will get a chance. That is what we have told the boys, we will give you a chance to play whenever we can but that opportunity should arise, there are a lot of boys waiting in line.”

After whitewashing the visitors in the ODI series, Team India would now look to make a mark in the three-match T20I series starting this Friday. The senior players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami will be taking rest from this series and focussing on the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy starting on February 9, in Nagpur. 

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