In the second ODI match on Saturday, each gamers have been benched, and Hardik Pandya assumed the position of captain.
The three-game collection, which was anticipated to conclude on Saturday night in Barbados, has taken an surprising flip as West Indies shocked India with a six-wicket defeat in the second ODI match. Throughout the collection, India has been experimenting with their lineup, and whereas they narrowly escaped defeat in the opener on Thursday due to their bowlers, the absence of Virat Kohli and captain Rohit Sharma raised eyebrows and drew criticism from specialists and followers alike. The choice to relaxation these two senior batters appeared puzzling to many. Following the loss on Saturday, head coach Rahul Dravid make clear the reasoning behind their absence.
In the collection opener at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Rohit and Kohli hardly had the probability to bat, as India’s chase of 115 was reduce quick by a collapse. The intention was to offer youthful batters with priceless recreation time and put together them for potential World Cup choice. However, as a result of a flurry of wickets, Rohit discovered himself strolling in at No.7, and Kohli, at No.8, was not required to bat.
In the second ODI match on Saturday, each gamers have been benched, and Hardik Pandya assumed the position of captain. The younger batting lineup was given the freedom to grab the alternative. Unfortunately, aside from Ishan Kishan, who scored his second consecutive fifty, the remainder of the batters didn’t ship, ensuing in India posting a humiliating rating of 181. West Indies chased down the goal in 36.4 overs, shedding solely 4 wickets in the course of.
Speaking to the media after the defeat, Dravid elaborated on how the West Indies collection supplied them with a last alternative to conduct these experiments earlier than embarking on the Asia Cup and subsequently the World Cup. He emphasised that as a result of the uncertainty surrounding the return of injured gamers Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul, the administration needed to allocate recreation time to the backup choices. This was essential to make sure their readiness in the occasion of a worst-case state of affairs.
“Honestly, this was our last chance to try some of our players. We have got four of our players who are injured and are in the NCA. With days to go for the Asia Cup and then the World Cup, we are kind of running out of time in a lot of ways. And we are hoping that some of them will be for the Asia Cup and the World Cup but we can’t take those chances. We have to try out other people and give them chances so that in worst case scenario they at least have game time behind them.
It also gives us the opportunity to make some decisions on players. Honestly in a series like this with 2-3 matches to go before the Asia Cup, playing Kohli and Rohit would have not given us any answers. But with the injuries we have in the NCA and some uncertainty around them we just wanted to give others a chance,” Dravid stated.
As the collection hangs in the stability, it stays unsure whether or not India will stick with their experimental strategy in the upcoming third and last ODI match, scheduled for August 1st.
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