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'Rohit, Virat Say..,' Ex-IND Batter Believes Star Duo Would Miss Rajkot ODI

image-lmyhvyixRohit Sharma and Virat Kohli (AP)

Indian captain Rohit Sharma and fellow senior member Virat Kohli are set to make a return to the team for their dead-rubber third ODI against Australia in Rajkot. The match, slated to be played on September 27, will conclude India’s World Cup 2023 preparations.

Both Sharma and Kohli opted themselves out of the first two ODIs in a bid to give some match-time to youngsters and World Cup-bound players in the side. Considering their imminent return for Rajkot ODI, former Indian batter Abhishek Nayar feels the two should continue allowing in-form youngsters to finish off the Australia series at home.


Nayar’s advice for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli

Team India, under interim skipper KL Rahul, trumped over Australia in the first two ODIs to go 2-0 up in their series. Several of India’s World Cup 2023 bound players, especially Suryakumar Yadav, Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer all fine-tuned themselves with the bat with hefty scores ahead of the tournament.

Former Indian player Abhishek Nayar believes incoming star attractions Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli should sit themselves out of the third ODI as well, in order to give a final Pre-World Cup crack to in-form youngsters of the side. 

“You know it will depend if Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli choose to play or let the youngsters have one more go and get some form under the belt. Because now Suryakumar Yadav has scored runs, Shreyas Iyer scored runs and Ishan Kishan has been in good nick. So will Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli say, you know, let these guys finish this tournament and then we'll see what and how to choose before the World Cup," while speaking to JioCinema after India’s emphatic 99-run win in Indore, Nayar said.

After sealing the bilateral series, India might give some rest to Shubman Gill and Shardul Thakur before the whole squad regroups in Guhawati for their warm-up fixture against the reigning champions, England.