Not a giant fan: Hanuma Vihari questions determination to relaxation Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli in 2nd ODI vs West Indies

By India Today Sports Desk: India’s Test specialist Hanuma Vihari and former opener Abhinav Mukund expressed their issues about India resting Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli whereas attempting to experiment and provides alternatives to the others within the ongoing ODI collection towards the West Indies. The two cricketers shared their view after India rested their captain Rohit Sharma and former skipper Virat Kohli for the 2nd ODI in Barbados on Saturday, July 29.

India have been eager on figuring out backup choices for the ODI World Cup later this yr and the 3-match collection towards an out-of-form West Indies aspect appears to have given the workforce administration a great platform. However, each Vihari and Mukund highlighted that India have only some matches – the rest of the West Indies collection, the Asia Cup, and a 3-match collection towards Australia at house – earlier than the World Cup, beginning October 5 in India.

WI v IND, 2ND ODI Updates

Notably, within the first ODI of the collection, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli dropped down the batting order handy alternatives to the likes of Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav and Shardul Thakur greater up the order. While Rohit batted at No. 7 to assist India end off a 115-run chase, Virat Kohli didn’t bat within the first ODI.

In the 2nd ODI, India dropped their stalwarts and picked Sanju Samson and Axar Patel within the XI.

NOT SURE YET

“It (the changes) shows that India are not sure about the batting order yet. Surya has not performed really well in the ODI format, unlike his performances in the T20Is. So they are looking to get an answer for the middle-order slot if KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer don’t recover. That’s the reason. The changes are evident.

“I’m not a giant fan (modifications). You want sure gamers enjoying whereas operating into the World Cup. India usually are not positive in regards to the batting line-up, it’s extremely clear,” Vihari told JioCinema on Saturday.

The Duleep Trophy-winning captain also highlighted that Axar Patel getting the nod ahead of Yuzvendra Chahal as the third spinner suggests that India are looking to lengthen their batting line-up.

Chahal was picked in the ODI squad but the leg-spinner has not been picked so far. Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav were picked in the first ODI and the two spinners ran riot, picking up 7 wickets between them in India’s 5-wicket win.

“And Axar Patel has been picked forward of Yuzvendra Chahal. That exhibits they’ve lengthened the batting line-up. In the World Cup when the pitches begin to flip, they could want Axar forward of Chahal (for third spinner),” he added.