India's limited-overs vice-captain and Mumbai Indians skipper says the team has had enough international outings to see where the players stood.
While there have been instances in the past where players were rewarded with India caps after their performances in the IPL, Rohit Sharma feels that the league should not be the criteria for world Cup selection.
India's limited-overs vice-captain and Mumbai Indians skipper says the team has had enough international outings to see where the players stood.
"I feel IPL should not be the criterion for team selection. We have played enough international matches to see where each individual stands because you can't select a fifty-over format from a twenty-over format. That's my personal opinion," Sharma said here on Thursday.
"And, IPL is a different ballgame. It is a franchise cricket. Yes, the form matters a lot, but again, like I said, in the last whole year, we have played enough ODI and T20 cricket. So, that should be enough for the guys to understand that these are the players that we want," Sharma said at the launch of a cricket website — www.cricket.com.
Even though there are a few issues like who will bat at No. 4 for India in the quadrennial event, Sharma said the team is settled.
"I think we are pretty much settled. There are a few spots (up for grabs) which everyone knows about. But that all depends on what the captain, coach and the selectors think about the combination – whether they want to go with an extra seamer, an extra middle-order batsman, an extra opening batsman or an extra spinner," he said.
Conditions will influence selection
The conditions are going to play an important role in England and on the basis of that, the selectors will come out with the team. Former England captain Kevin Pietersen said that English conditions may vary during that time.
"So, it all depends (the team selection) because like KP (Kevin Pietersen) said, the conditions in England will matter the most," Sharma said. "The last time when we were there, the conditions were really dry, and I don't know if it will be the same again there. If it is like that, then we need to get an extra spinner there, as simple as that. And, if that is not, then, probably, we will need to get an extra seamer then. So, it all depends on what they think, and I also understand we won't know what the weather conditions will be like. We are going to pick the team in the next few days, if I am not wrong."
Asian teams favourite if it's hot
The conditions hold the key in the World Cup and Pietersen said that the sub-continent teams have a chance if weather is like how it was last year — hot.
"If the conditions are like they were the last summer, then the sub-continent teams are going to have a massive role to play in the World Cup. If they are not, if it is horrible and green and seaming all over the place, I am sorry, Rohit, but it is going to play in to England's favour and in favour of those teams who cope well in those circumstances," said Pietersen.
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