Why Virat and Rohit not in the India squad? Head Coach answers the million-dollar question after India’s loss against West Indies
For a series that was supposed to be wrapped up on Saturday evening in Barbados, the West Indies inflicted a shocking six-wicket defeat on India in the second ODI match of the three-game series. Thus, the question “Why Virat and Rohit not in the India squad?” has erupted all over the internet.
India has been experimenting throughout the series, and while they barely survived the opener earlier on Thursday thanks to the bowlers, with Virat Kohli and captain Rohit Sharma rested, the batters faltered yet again, prompting criticism from executives and fans for the experiments that made little sense to them.
Following Saturday’s defeat, head coach Rahul Dravid explained why the two senior batters were rested for the second ODI.
Rohit and Kohli would have scarcely batted in the series opener at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown had it not been for India’s 115-run collapse. Both veterans of the game had made way for the younger batters to receive playing time and prepare for the World Cup auditions. However, a series of wickets saw Rohit come in at No.7 and guarantee that Kohli, at No.8, was not necessary.
On Saturday, the two were benched, Hardik was named captain, and the inexperienced batting lineup was given the freedom to exploit the opportunity. But, as in the first match, no other hitters showed up, with the exception of Ishan Kishan, who got his second consecutive fifty, culminating in India managing a humiliating score of 181, which was chased down by West Indies in 36.4 overs for the loss of four wickets.
Why Virat and Rohit not in the India squad? Head Coach answers the million-dollar question after India’s defeat against West Indies
Speaking to the media after the loss, Dravid said that the West Indies series was their last chance to try these new things before the Asia Cup, then the World Cup. He said that, given the uncertainty surrounding the recovery of injured players Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul, the management had to give the backup options some game time in order to keep them match ready in the event of an emergency.
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.
India’s Head Coach further added,
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 said
With the series on the line, it remains to be seen whether India will continue with their experimentation in the third and final ODI on August 1.
West Indies leveled the ODI series with a six-wicket win over India
West Indies defeated India by six wickets in the second one-day international on Saturday in Barbados, marking their first victory over the Asian team in nearly four years and tying the series at one-all.
India were put into bat after the hosts won the toss in the absence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, and it was initially plain sailing as Ishan Kishan (55) and Shubman Gill (34) stitched together an opening stand of 90.
However, the top order collapsed, as India quickly fell to 113-5 before Suryakumar Yadav (24) sought to save the innings. However, a second collapse in the lower order resulted in India being bowled out for 181, with Gudakesh Motie and all-rounder Romario Shepherd each taking three wickets on a surface that favored the bowlers.
Shardul Thakur cleaned out the top order with three wickets after Kyle Mayers got them off to a fast start with 36 off 28 deliveries, including two sixes.
However, West Indies skipper Shai Hope (63 not out) and Keacy Carty (48 not out) batted patiently to chase down the goal, and the match was won in the 37th over.
Thank you for reading.
