'I am Sorry Rohit': Why has Former BCCI Selector Kris Srikkanth Apologized to Rohit Sharma?

Former BCCI chairman of selectors Kris Srikkanth has publicly expressed regret over leaving Rohit Sharma out of India's triumphant 2011 ODI World Cup squad, admitting that the decision still bothers him years later.

India's 2011 World Cup victory on home soil remains one of the most cherished moments in Indian cricket history. Led by MS Dhoni, the team ended a 28-year wait for the trophy. However, the success involved some tough selection choices that left talented players on the sidelines.

One notable omission was a young Rohit Sharma, who had already shown promise in ODI cricket with over 1,200 runs in 57 matches, including seven half-centuries. Despite his growing reputation, Rohit missed out on the prestigious tournament.

“I Am Sorry”: Srikkanth’s Personal Apology to Rohit Sharma

“I feel bad for him even today. I told Rohit last year, I am sorry... It's not by purpose, but it's just that we want to take those half all-rounders. Our thought process was similar to that of the 1983 World Cup.”

In a recent interview with The Week, Kris Srikkanth revealed that he personally apologised to Rohit Sharma last year. The former selector explained that the decision was not a reflection of Rohit's talent but stemmed from a deliberate team strategy focused on players who could contribute with both bat and ball.

Srikkanth emphasised that the selection panel followed a blueprint similar to India's 1983 World Cup-winning side, preferring multi-dimensional players over pure specialists. This approach aimed to provide greater flexibility and depth in both batting and bowling departments.

“And at the end of the day, who was the Player of the Tournament? Yuvraj Singh, with the ball and bat. In some matches, Sehwag, Sachin and Suresh Raina would have bowled a few overs. Even Yusuf Pathan is a half all-rounder. So in all these things, unfortunately, what happened, this half all-rounder concept, Rohit Sharma, the poor fellow, could not find a place. He was actually good enough to play in the 2011 World Cup, but poor boy missed out," he added.

Yuvraj Singh's all-round heroics, scoring 362 runs and taking 15 wickets, earned him the Player of the Tournament award and proved pivotal in India's campaign.

Rohit Sharma’s Journey Despite the Heartbreak

Although he missed the 2011 glory, Rohit Sharma went on to become one of India's most successful white-ball batters. He later switched to Mumbai Indians in the IPL the same year and carved out a legendary career, eventually captaining India to multiple ICC titles - the T20 World Cup in 2024 and Champions Trophy in 2025.

Even today, Rohit has openly spoken about missing the 2011 ODI World Cup, a tournament India won under Dhoni's leadership.