R Ashwin says Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli ‘cannot be touched’ in ODI squad, citing credentials and fan base
Former India spinner R Ashwin has stated that senior batsmen Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli cannot be dropped from the ODI squad as long as they are committed to the format, citing their stellar credentials and massive fan following. Ashwin’s comments came after India’s ODI series against England was decided on Sunday at Lord’s, where Rohit scored 138 off 139 balls — his 34th ODI century and the first by an Indian man at Lord’s — though India fell short of the 388-run target.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin emphasised the immense popularity of both players. “They cannot touch Virat and Rohit if they want to play. It is because of their credentials. Rohit has scored almost 12,000 runs; they cannot touch him. The other thing is that they are batters, and if you touch them, they have an army. People come to see them. If you drop them, it will just break the roof down,” he said.
Ashwin also praised Rohit’s knock under pressure, noting that the 39-year-old had endured a lean run of eight innings without a substantial contribution this year. “This is a phenomenal knock. He was set after hitting that pull to Josh Tongue. I feel that this is Rohit’s road to a comeback after an injury. If he were in a slightly better state or were more confident, he could have scored 180 and won the match for the team. I felt like Rohit was in really good form,” Ashwin added.
He further stated that Rohit has nothing left to prove and that his motivation is internal. “The position he is in and the way he batted, it’s not that difficult for him. We have seen him for so many years; there’s nothing left to prove. Whom does he have to prove? It is only about the internal appetite: I want to go to the World Cup, that’s why I need to play like this,” Ashwin concluded.
The series loss to England has raised questions about India’s ODI form, but Ashwin’s remarks underscore the enduring importance of senior players like Rohit and Kohli in the team’s plans.
