Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma Given Stern Message: 'Don't Put Yourself Above The Game'

Steve Waugh takes a dig at Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s ODI future, saying no one is “irreplaceable” in modern cricket and players shouldn’t be allowed to “dictate the game.”

Former Australia captain Steve Waugh bluntly declared that no player is irreplaceable in modern cricket and thus, shouldn’t be allowed to ‘dictate the game’, in reference to the tricky situation BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar has found himself in regarding Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s ODI future.

Kohli and Rohit are two of the most popular active cricketers, with a humongous fan following. Both are clearly pushing themselves to be part of the 2027 ODI World Cup, but would have either crossed 40 or would be close to that age when it begins. Not many survive in an ever increasingly intense sport for that long.

Dropping them at any stage would bring huge furor and pressure on Agarkar, but selecting them based only on their legacies would be like gambling with India’s prospects of winning a first 50-over World Cup trophy in 16 years.

“The players have to take some responsibility and realise that the game is bigger than the individual," Waugh told journalist Vimal Kumar on his YouTube channel. “You can’t put yourself above the game. You’ve got to realise that the game moves on and someone else will take your place. You’re not irreplaceable. So I think the players can’t dictate the game. At the end of the day, the chairman of selectors has got to make a call for the better," he added.

Agarkar has indirectly suggested that both legends have some leeway in terms of their performances, though BCCI administrators have anonymously spoken to some media houses, suggesting that they’d make the World Cup squad only on merit. Rohit was the Player of the Series against Australia, his first rubber back, while Kohli also looked back to his best in the final match, making Agarkar’s choice even trickier.

“You’ve got to be open and honest with the players as chairman of selectors. You need to have input. I don’t think you can afford to be too close to the players. You got to have some distance because sometimes you have got to make a tough call. Every chairman is different in the way they go about it. I hope Ajit Agarkar has a good relationship with the players, but he’s got to have some distance as well. Communication with experienced players is very important – Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma – what are you thinking? At the end of the day, the chairman of selectors has got to make a call," Waugh added.

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