New Delhi:
India have more or less a settled squad for the World Cup barring one slot and vice-captain Rohit Sharma feels skipper Virat Kohli's preference would matter a lot while sorting out that position. Rohit, who is a certainty in the World Cup squad as an opener, also said that the specific spot that needs to be filled would be dictated by conditions that are likely to prevail in England during the World Cup, commencing May 30."I know how it works with the captain.
The preference of the captain is very important in terms of that extra player he wants in the squad. I think Virat and (Indian team's head coach) Ravi Shastri have to decide what exactly the combination that they want or what extra player or where is that extra cushion they are looking for. That is something that will matter the most," Rohit said at the launch of website cricket.com.
"I think we are pretty much settled. A few spots are there which everyone knows about. It all depends on what captain, coach and selectors think about the combination, whether we need to go with an extra middle-order batsman, extra opener, extra seamer or spinner. Conditions in England will matter a lot."
Rohit also said that the team management will have to play a gamble in picking up that extra player. "Last summer when we were there the conditions were really dry. But we don't know whether it will be the same (during the World Cup). If it is (the same) we need an extra spinner there - it's as simple as that," he said.
"If it's not, probably we will need an extra seamer there. I also understand we would not know what the weather conditions will be (but) we have to select the team in the next few days or weeks, actually."Rohit also believes that for World Cup selection, the players should be judged on the basis of 'performance and form' in the last four years and not on how they perform during the IPL. World Cup will begin days after the conclusion of IPL on May 12.
The national selectors are keeping a close eye on the IPL for picking the 15-member Indian squad for the mega-event."With their inputs, the selectors will keep an eye on what is happening with those guys in IPL although I feel IPL should not be the criteria for team selection," he said at the launch of a new website cricket.com here Thursday.
"They have played enough international matches to see where each individual stands. You can't select a team for the 50-over format from a 20-over event, it's my personal opinion. IPL is a different ball game. It's franchise cricket and yes, form matters a lot."In the last four years, we have played enough One Day International matches, enough T20 cricket. That should be enough for guys to understand these are the players that we want," he added.
However, the Mumbai Indians skipper also acknowledged that IPL has helped him in his preparations for the upcoming mega event."Every time we play IPL, there is some big event right after happening - a big Test series or big one-day series. It does help also. 35-plus or 40 guys will probably need some rest. I was talking to Jasprit (Bumrah) the other day. He needs to play a lot of matches and bowl a lot to be match fit than be at home. I also, as a batter, need to play," Rohit said.
