Ind vs NZ 2016: Sandeep Patil tells why Rohit Sharma was retained in Test squad despite poor form

Rohit Sharma, one of India's most prolific run-scorers in limited-overs cricket, has failed to live up to the expectation in Tests.

New Delhi: As the Board of Cricket for Control in India (BCCI) announced India's 15-man squad for upcoming Test series against New Zealand, one decision which raised many eyebrows was the retention of Rohit Sharma.

Despite being one of India's most prolific batsmen in limited-overs cricket, the Mumbaikar is yet to make an impact in the traditional format of the game.

When asked about his selection, Sandeep Patil, chairman of the senior national selection committee, said that the Indian think tank had decided to the give the players a longer run.

"Rohit is a fabulous player, immense talent he has got. But he hasn't got a longer run in Test cricket. What we have seen with Rohit Sharma, is he is picked for one Test match and then rested for entire season and then again picked. So selection committee, along with coach and captain feels that whoever, I am not only naming Rohit, whoever will be picked will be given fair amount of chances here onwards," he said.

In the recently concluded Test series on the Caribbean soil, Rohit managed to score just 50 runs from two innings.

Rohit got his Test career to a rollicking start when he slammed back-to-back hundreds against West Indies in what was Sachin Tendulkar's farewell series. However, he has struggled to pile up runs since then, and has scored just four half-centuries in 29 innings.