IND vs ENG 2024: We will give opportunity only to players who have that hunger to play Tests – Rohit Sharma

Indian captain Rohit Sharma said they will give opportunity only to players who have the hunger to play Test matches. Rohit admitted that the red-ball version is the toughest format of the game and players need to work hard to succeed in the oldest form.

In the absence of Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Mohammad Shami and Rishabh Pant, Indian selectors gave chances to players like Sarfaraz Khan, Rajat Patidar, Dhruv Jurel, and Akash Deep. Barring Rajat Patidar, other players have grabbed their opportunities with both hands.

Meanwhile, recently BCCI secretary Jay Shah urged players to play domestic cricket for their respective states. Shah said there will be repercussions for players who skip Ranji trophy.

“This [Test cricket] is the toughest format,” Rohit said after India won the fourth Test against England in Ranchi to take an unassailable 3-1 lead. “And if you want success and want to excel in this tough format then you need that hunger. It is very important. We will give opportunity only to players who have that hunger. You come to know [easily] the players who don’t have that hunger, [or] players who don’t want to stay here [and play this format]. We come to know that.

“Players who have that hunger, players who want to stay here and perform, [and] play in tough conditions, we will give preference to them. Obviously, it is pretty simple: if you don’t have hunger, there’s no meaning playing such players.”

“At present I don’t see anyone who doesn’t have that hunger: those who are here in the squad and even those who are not here – every one of them wants to play,” Rohit said. “But the opportunities at this level come very few times. If you don’t utilise that opportunity, then you lose that chance. We all have experienced that. So those players who utilise the opportunities, who make the team win, who perform for the team, obviously that is noted. That is very important.”

Rohit also directly addressed the IPL question, stating that it is good form but said the Test format is ultimate form and its not easy to savor success.

“IPL is for us no doubt a good format. But Test cricket is the most difficult format: to achieve success and perform here is not so easy,” he said. “We have seen in these four Tests we have played, the three wins we got were not easy. We had to work hard, batsmen had to spend ample time in the middle, bowlers had to deliver longer spells. So this is a format that involves hard work.”

The fifth and final Test match will be played at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala from March 7.