'Playing Kohli and Rohit Wouldn't..'- Rahul Dravid's Bold Statement After India's Crushing Defeat in 2nd ODI
Rahul Dravid justified the management's call to rest Virat and Rohit [Twitter]
Team India rested their regular captain, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli for the second ODI against West Indies on Saturday, July 29. In their absence, Hardik Pandya led the team. The absence of both experienced players was evident, as India was bowled out for 181 runs in 40.5 overs. The hosts comfortably chased the target in 36.4 overs, levelling the series at 1-1.
In the first ODI against West Indies, the management decided to experiment with their batting lineup, opening with Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan and having Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli lower down the order. While Kohli didn't get the opportunity to bat, the Indian captain surprisingly came to bat at the seventh position.
The timing of these batting experiments in the first and second ODI, with the Asia Cup and World Cup approaching, has sparked frustration among fans and cricket experts.
However, despite the backlash, Indian head coach Rahul Dravid stands firm, defending the management's decision to try out different batting lineups in the first and second ODI.
Dravid believes that the team's handful of ODIs ahead of the two major tournaments provides the team with their sole opportunity to try out players beyond those certain to be part of the playing XI.
Here’s what Dravid said in the post-match conference
“Honestly, this was our last chance to be able to try out some of our players," Dravid said during a post-match interaction with the media. We have got a few of our players who are injured, are in the NCA.”
The India head coach further added that with uncertainty around the return of injured players like Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul, the management had to give the back-up options some game time to keep them match-ready in case of any worst-case scenario.
“With a month to go for the Asia Cup, we are kind of running out of time in a lot of ways. And we are hopeful that some of them will be fit 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 the worst case scenario they at least have game time behind them."
Playing Virat & Rohit Wouldn’t Have Given Us Too Many Answers: Dravid
Dravid justified the omission of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the second ODI, stating that their inclusion wouldn't have addressed pertinent questions. The team's primary focus was on offering game time to other players ahead of the two major tournaments.
“It gives us the opportunity to make some decisions on players. Honestly in a series like this with only 2-3 matches to go before the Asia Cup, playing Virat and Rohit would have not given us too many answers. But with the injuries we have in the NCA and some uncertainty around them, we just wanted to give others a chance if they’re required, we can play them.”
With the three-match series now tied at 1-1, all eyes will be on whether the India management continues experimenting with their batting lineup or reverts to their original order in the upcoming matches.
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