Indian pacer Mohit Sharma on Friday blamed his sudden loss of hair as the reason behind him losing form, and subsequently his place in the national cricket team.

Sharma has bounced back in the ongoing Ranji Trophy, scalping 16 wickets in five games while leading Haryana. Sharma was often viewed as one of Indian limited-overs skipper MS Dhoni’s trusted aides, having played under the Ranchi dasher for suspended Indian Premier League franchise, Chennai Super Kings, “I realised I was losing hair, and it really affected my confidence big time, which in turn affected my bowling,” Sharma was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

The 28-year-old last featured for India in October 2015 – in a One-day International against South Africa in Mumbai – where he was taken apart for 84 runs in the seven overs he bowled. Sharma’s spot in the Indian side was taken by Jasprit Bumrah, and has not been picked for any tournament apart from the World Twenty20 in March, where he did not play a single game.