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'The Captain Wanted Him Out...': Former Selector Reveals Why Rohit Sharma Wasn't Part Of 2011 WC Squad

image-lllz5frzMS Dhoni captained and led Team India to some crucial victories, one of which was 2011 World Cup. (Twitter)

The Hitman, Rohit Sharma has not only managed to successfully register big wins for the Indian Cricket Team but also his IPL franchise, Mumbai Indians. However, he has always been eluded from the much-reputed World Cup title. 

Back in 2011, Sharma, the then-24 year old young blood, was unfortunately not a part of the squad and missed on the opportunity to clinch the trophy, failing to add another feather to his hat. Now, fast-forward to 12 years, skipper Rohit, finally has a chance to redeem himself as he will lead India in the forthcoming ICC event, World Cup 2023.

Interestingly, a recent interview conducted by RevSportz with Raja Venkat, a national selector in 2011, has brought to light a surprising revelation. According to Venkat, Rohit Sharma was initially part of the squad for the 2011 ODI World Cup under MS Dhoni's leadership. However, Dhoni later made the decision to replace Rohit Sharma with Piyush Chawla.

"When we were selecting the team, numbers 1-14, every name was accepted by the panel. No. 15, we suggested the name of Rohit Sharma. Gary Kirsten also felt it was a perfect selection. But the captain wanted Piyush Chawla. So immediately, Kirsten somersaulted. He said: ‘I think that’s a better choice.’ So, that is how Rohit Sharma got left out."

During the 2011 ODI World Cup held in India, MS Dhoni successfully guided the Indian team to victory. The squad boasted notable players such as Sachin Tendulkar and a young Virat Kohli, contributing to the team's success. 

Several years following this remarkable triumph, Raja Venkat, a former Bengal cricketer who was a member of the selection panel for the men's national team from 2008 to 2012, shared a surprising revelation during an interview with RevSports. 

Venkat unveiled that it was MS Dhoni who advocated for the inclusion of leg-spinner Piyush Chawla in the team, which ultimately led to Rohit Sharma being left out of the squad.