As India squad drops Rohit, Gavaskar talks about fitness transparency

The dropping of Rohit Sharma from India squad for the upcoming Australia tour and the player being seen at the practice nets of Mumbai Indians on the same day has led former captain Sunil Gavaskar demanding more transparency on his injury status.

Rohit, India’s limited overs’ vice-captain, was left out of the Mumbai Indians squad after he suffered a hamstring injury while playing against Kings XI Punjab on October 18. However, a possibility remains that he may return later in the season, reports suggest.

When the three squads for Australia tour were announced Monday, the BCCI senior national selection committee didn’t share much information about Rohit’s injury. It said his progress was being monitored by a medical team, according to The Indian Express.

However, despite being dropped from the national squad, Rohit was seen practising at the Mumbai Indians net on the same day. This made Gavaskar concerned about his injury status.

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“We are talking about the Test matches, which are a month and a half way. What actually is the problem with him will help everybody. If he is practising in the nets for Mumbai Indians, then honestly I don’t know what kind of injury it is,” the veteran was quoted as telling Star Sports after an IPL match on Monday.

Calling for a “little bit of transparency” and “openness”, Gavaskar said the Indian cricket fans deserve to know about it. “The franchisees, I understand. They don’t want to give their hand away… But we are talking about the Indian team here.”

“Even Mayank Agarwal for example. For an Indian cricket fan, they ought to know what happens to two of their key players,?” the report quoted Gavaskar.

With the changing formats of the game, fitness has become of prime importance and thus calls for transparency in this assumes major significance.

From Jonty Rhodes’ mesmerising run-out of Inzamam-ul-Haq during the 1992 World Cup to Nicholas Pooran’s magnificent save denying Sanju Samson a six during an IPL match, it has been clearer than ever how important fitness can be during crucial times that may end up as a decider.

The Australia tour, scheduled to start from November 27, comprises of three T20Is, three ODIs and four Tests.