Ravichandran Ashwin cites selection bias, says Rohit and Virat are 'impossible to drop'
Ravichandran Ashwin said Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are 'impossible to drop', arguing their achievements and standing among fans make them untouchable. He also raised concerns about a selection bias in Indian cricket that treats batters and bowlers very differently.
Ashwin noted that the extraordinary records and vast followings of Rohit and Virat create a level of protection that few others enjoy. He contrasted the public response to high-profile batters with the reaction when bowlers are left out, suggesting the two groups do not receive equal scrutiny. According to Ashwin, dropping a leading batter would provoke widespread debate, whereas bowlers tend to attract less public attention when omitted.
The former India off-spinner underlined how a batter’s profile can insulate them from the sort of fallout that might affect other players. He stressed that accolades and fan support contribute to a perception that makes it difficult for decision-makers to move against marquee names. This, Ashwin implied, shapes conversations around team selection.
Ashwin emphasised the difference in backing between the two disciplines, saying bowlers receive less public backing and face limited criticism when dropped. That disparity, he argued, leads to an uneven landscape in which similar performance questions are treated very differently depending on the player’s role. The result is a gap in accountability that affects how selection choices are viewed.
By pointing to the outsized influence of reputation and popularity, Ashwin painted a picture of a selection environment where context beyond on-field form can be decisive. He framed Rohit Sharma’s and Virat Kohli’s status as examples of how extraordinary achievement and fan appetite combine to make certain players practically untouchable. Those dynamics, in his telling, help explain why removing such figures from the side is so unlikely.
Ashwin’s remarks underline ongoing debates about fairness and consistency in selection criteria, with particular emphasis on the differing treatment of bowlers and batters. His comments serve as a reminder of the tensions that can exist between performance evaluation and public sentiment in Indian cricket.
