Daijiworld Media Network – Chandigarh

Chandigarh, Jul 19: Cricket legend Kapil Dev has said that even stalwarts such as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are not guaranteed a place in the Indian team, but should continue to be selected as long as they are performing.

Rohit, 39, and Kohli, 37, are nearing the end of their illustrious careers. Rohit, however, has come under scrutiny following two low scores in the ongoing three-match ODI series against England.

"Certainty is never ever applied to anybody. Whoever keeps performing, keeps playing. It doesn't matter (who he is). I would say, you keep watching the performance and let them play as much as they can," Kapil told PTI during an interaction at the Kapil Dev Sunil Gupta Hospital.

The 1983 World Cup-winning captain said decisions on the future of senior players should be left to the selectors and team management.

"Even Sachin Tendulkar had a lot of cricket left in him (when he retired). Let the selectors do that job. I'm not going to say who's dropped. It's the selectors' and the team management's job. I'm assessing after watching television, so it's easy to talk about that.

"Let's give the responsibility to the management and to the selectors to pick the best team. If they lose, we should stand by them," he said.

Kapil also urged fans to appreciate the contributions made by senior players.

"He (Rohit) is not 20 years old. He is almost 40, and everybody has to retire. But the amount of happiness he has given to everybody — not just Indian people, but everybody around the world — hats off to him," he said.

"What he has given us for so many years, we should be proud of that. And as much as he can play, or as the selectors or captain think, he should play," he added.

The former skipper said the focus should remain on selecting a team capable of winning matches, irrespective of age or reputation.

"Transition is the method they want to use. It's ok, doesn't matter, let them. Tomorrow a new boy will come and he will take over. We just have to sit back, watch, and enjoy ourselves.

"I think it's taking time, but we have so much talent. They have to focus on who's going to play. Don't try to make too many shifts. Winning is the most important. If anybody is good, don't go by his age, don't go by his stature. You just have to pick a team that can win for India," he said.

Kapil also advised patience with teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

"I don't want to talk about him too much. He has the talent and just give him the opportunity. We've seen that talent, rest he has to work very hard. A 15-year-old boy is a 15-year-old. But let him grow with his ability and talent," he said.

Commenting on India's recent T20I series defeats against Ireland (0-2) and England (0-4), Kapil said the team was going through a natural phase.

"I think after they played so well for the last 3-4 years, I never expected it to be as bad as that, but it happens. It's a cycle – (performance) goes up, comes down. Other teams try to catch up, and I think this is a new beginning for the Indian cricket team.

"My heart is always with the Indian team. I hope they win all the matches. But they have to perform, they have to play well to win," he said.