India’s star batters, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, have been kept out of the India team for the T20 international matches this year and Hardik Pandya has been the captain  in the shot format tournaments.

Rohit Sharma explained why this was the case. “Last year also we did the same thing – the T20 World Cup was there, so we didn’t play one-day cricket. Now also we are doing the same, the ODI World Cup is there, so we are not playing T20s. You can’t play everything and be ready for the World Cup. We decided this two years ago,” The Hindustan Times quoted him as saying.

He also pointed out that Ravindra Jadeja is not playing in the T20 matches either.

Both Rohit and Virat will be playing next in the Asia Cup ODI which starts at the end of this month. The tournament is scheduled ahead of the forthcoming World Cup.