"It was not my opinion to drop Sourav. It was a collective decision of the team management not to bid for the 38-year-old southpaw at the auction," Whatmore told reporters.
"However, Sourav was offered the position of brand ambassador of the team, but there was no response from his side," he said.
Referring to the upcoming World Cup, the 56-year-old former coach of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh said that India had a good chance to perform well.
He admitted that Australian team is going through a transition phase after legends like Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath retired from international cricket.
"The sudden vaccum had caused the present crisis. But don't forget Australia are three-time champions," said Whatmore who is in-charge of youth development programme of Cricket Association of Bengal.
Published 21 January 2011, 13:44 IST