The ongoing debate about veteran players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's future in One-Day Internationals has found a strong supporter in former Indian cricketer Atul Wassan. As Team India prepares for their upcoming ODI series against Australia, Wassan has voiced his approval of the selectors' strategy to manage the workload of senior players by limiting their format participation.
In an exclusive discussion, Wassan emphasized that it's "fair" for modern cricketers to specialize in specific formats, especially for established stars like Rohit and Kohli. "The game has evolved significantly, and managing player fitness and performance requires strategic planning," Wassan stated.
The Case for Format Specialization
Wassan elaborated on why this approach makes practical sense for Indian cricket:
- Extended Career Span: Focusing on fewer formats helps veterans maintain peak performance for crucial tournaments
- Opportunity for Young Talent: Creates space for emerging players to gain international experience
- Strategic Resource Management: Allows selectors to build specialized squads for different formats
Australia Series: A Testing Ground
The upcoming ODI series against Australia serves as an important platform for this selection philosophy. Wassan believes that having Rohit and Kohli available for key matches while resting them from others provides the perfect balance between experience and experimentation.
"When you have players of Rohit and Kohli's caliber, you want them fresh and hungry for important contests. Rotating them strategically ensures we get their best when it matters most," Wassan explained.
Looking Ahead to Future Tournaments
This approach becomes particularly relevant with major ICC tournaments on the horizon. Wassan stressed that managing senior players effectively could be crucial for India's success in global competitions.
"The Australian series will demonstrate how this rotation policy can work effectively. It's about building depth while maintaining quality," he added, highlighting the long-term benefits of this strategy.
The former cricketer concluded that the modern cricket calendar demands smart management rather than expecting players to feature in every format continuously. This progressive approach, according to Wassan, could define the next chapter of Indian cricket success.
