“You’re not irreplaceable” - Steve Waugh to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma; also informs Ajit Agarkar not to be too close with players

Former Australian cricketer Steve Waugh has made an interesting statement on the Indian stalwart batting duo of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, stating that the game is bigger than the players and they can’t put themselves above the game.

Speaking exclusively to the senior journalist Vimal Kumar, Waugh went on to emphasize that the players can’t dictate the game and also added that it’s up to the chairman of selectors to make the tough calls at the end of the day. 

"The players have to take some responsibility and realise that the game is bigger than the individual. 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," Waugh told senior journalist Vimal Kumar.

Additionally, Waugh has offered a piece of advice to the Indian chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar, that he can’t be too close to the players, adding that it’s important to have some distance with them.

"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," he added.

Rohit had an exceptional Australian ODI series Down Under on his comeback. While he smacked a 73-run knock in the second ODI, he smacked an unbeaten 121-run knock in the third ODI, winning the player of the match and series awards.

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