"At this rate, they will be rested for the World Cup as well" - Fans fume after Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are absent for the 3rd ODI
Team India skipper Rohit Sharma and ace batter Virat Kohli find themselves out of the playing XI once again for the third ODI against the West Indies at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad. All-rounder Hardik Pandya once again leads the team as the stand-in skipper in the series decider on Tuesday (August 1).
The absence of the two senior players in the second ODI was a surprising revelation for the majority of fans and pundits. With the Men in Blue having suffered a six-wicket defeat in the contest, many expected the duo to walk back into the playing XI, considering that the series is on the line.
Hardik Pandya named two changes at the toss, bringing Ruturaj Gaikwad and Jaydev Unadkat into the playing XI at the expense of Umran Malik and Axar Patel. He said:
"Two changes for us. Ruturaj comes in place of Umran and Unadkat comes in place of Axar. Going to the decider the boys are pumped up and looking forward to the game. Looks good (the surface), I don't think much will change, batting first gives a good opportunity for us to set a good total."
West Indies skipper Shai Hope won the toss and opted to bowl first. The Men in Maroon are on the lookout to record their first ODI bilateral series win over India for the first time since 2006.
Fans were far from pleased with the continued 'experimentation' approach despite the poor performance in the second ODI and the subsequent backlash. Here are some of the reactions on Twitter following Kohli and Sharma's absence in the series final:
#indvswi Worst decision to opt out of series decider #RohitSharma what's going on in #Indiancricket? No need of experiments world cup is not too long. #RahulDravid as a coach is completely failed. @BCCI @JayShah irritating
Has BCCI gone mad?! Why the hell they aren't playing kohli and rohit? Idiotic Decision
#ViratKohli𓃵 #RohitSharma #IndvsWI #WIvIND #SackDravid
#Hitman akka #RohitSharma is not playing back to back odis, something wrong 🧐 #INDvsWI
@mufaddal_vohra Rest them for the World Cup as well.
Team management badly wants them not to get into form or rhythm.
@mufaddal_vohra My interest pic.twitter.com/mDGlJG0JJ8
@mufaddal_vohra i wish they loose this series in lieu of experimenting things just ahead of World Cup
@mufaddal_vohra Why didn't they return after the end of test series ...can't be about those beautiful beaches.
@mufaddal_vohra Dravid is taking that theory dialogue from Oppenheimer very very Seriously
@mufaddal_vohra What is going on? Why best batters of the team given rest when WC is around the corner? Looks like Virat Rohit will curtain their odi career after WC...
@mufaddal_vohra What kind of rest it is ??
Why did they select them in odi series if management didn't have idea of playing them
Atleast they would have came home with test players
@CricCrazyJohns Rahul Dravid is following the footsteps of his Guru Greg chapell
@CricCrazyJohns pic.twitter.com/dYNbEC4iwX
@CricCrazyJohns I don't understand this "resting". You have two of the greatest white-ball batters in your side, why not utilise them as long as they're available?
@CricCrazyJohns Seriously???? How can these guys be benching their most experienced players when the World Cup is 2 months away?
Experiment aisa karo ki 4 log kya, pura country hopes chhod de
@CricCrazyJohns Then why Hardik said they needed rest in the second ODIs to play the third? I told you before as well, this team is under severe decline and can’t be trusted words!
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli likely to be seen next at the 2023 Asia Cup
Even in the solitary ODI that the duo played during the tour, their involvement was negligible. Virat Kohli made his presence in the field with a sharp catch at second slip to dismiss Romario Shepherd but did not take the chance to bat in the revamped batting order. Rohit Sharma, on the other hand, came into bat at No. 7 and scored an unbeaten 12.
Kohli and Sharma are not part of the T20I setup and are likely to next be in action during the 2023 Asia Cup in Sri Lanka. The tournament will begin on August 30, with India scheduled to play their first match on September 2 against arch-rivals Pakistan. The team could play a total of six ODIs if they qualify for the finals.
The Men in Blue are also slated to play a three-match ODI series against Australia at home right before the ODI World Cup.
Are India progressing in the right direction in the build-up to the 2023 ODI World Cup? Let us know what you think.