India skipper Rohit Sharma will spearhead the daunting task of ending the over 10-year-long ICC title drought for Men in Blue in this year's home ODI World in October-November.
India last won the ODI World Cup in 2011 under legendary captain MS Dhoni's leadership at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. This year when the quadrennial event returns in India, fans are expecting the same result from the Indian side.
Before the World Cup, Rohit's men will be tested in the Asia Cup which commences on August 30 while India are scheduled to play their opening match against arch-rivals Pakistan in Kandy on September 2.
The 15-man squad for the showpiece event will be picked from the pool of 18 players picked for the continental cup. With three players set to lose their place in the World Cup squad, the opening batter feels there will be a reason behind their exclusion which will be conveyed to them.
Rohit Sharma on India's World Cup 2023 squad selection
"While picking the best combination, there will be guys who will miss out for various reasons and Rahul bhai (Dravid) and I have tried our best to explain to the players why they are not in the squad. We have tried to communicate with the players after every selection and playing XI that has been announced. We talk to them face to face, one-on-one why they have not been picked," Rohit told PTI in an interview.
Rohit recalled his exclusion from India's 2011 World Cup squad and added, "Sometimes, I try and put myself in their shoes. When I wasn't picked in 2011, it was such a heart-breaking moment for me and I felt what's left after being dropped from a World Cup squad?"
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The right-handed batter did not refrain from admitting that his decisions can go wrong at times.
"Me, coaches, and selectors, take into account all factors like opposition, surfaces, our strengths, their weaknesses, and then reach a common ground. There is every chance that we will not be perfect always. At the end of the day, few individuals make decisions, and we are bound to make mistakes as humans. We won't always be right," Rohit said.
The 36-year-old asserted that biasness is not the parameter to pick or drop any player from the squad and totally depends on the team combination.
"It's not like, I don't like this person, so I am dropping him. Captaincy is not based on personal likes and dislikes. If anyone misses out, there is a reason for it. If you are the unlucky one, we can do nothing," Rohit said.
He further explained how Yuvraj Singh consoled him after being dropped from India's World Cup squad in 2011.
"I was sad and sitting in my room and didn't know what to do next. I remember Yuvi (Yuvraj Singh) calling me to his room and taking me out for dinner," Rohit said.
"He explained to me how it feels when you are left out. He told me, 'the best thing is that you have so many years in-front of you. As we play in the World Cup, you take this chance to work hard on your game, skills and make a comeback. There is no way that you won't play for India or not get a chance to play in the World Cup'.
"I went back to the drawing board, worked hard and immediately after the World Cup, I made a comeback and it has been good since then. Since this is me, who has gone through this emotion, no one can tell me that "easier said than done". I have faced exclusion in a World Cup, and I know how it exactly feels," he added.