On Tuesday, the Indian team management stuck to their decision of providing young and fringe players with another chance in the third ODI against the West Indies. This time, both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were rested, and Hardik Pandya took charge to lead Team India in the series-deciding match at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad.
Following an unexpected defeat in the second ODI in Barbados, where the West Indies made a comeback and leveled the series, fans anticipated the return of the best XI with Rohit and Kohli back in action for the decider.
However, under the guidance of Rahul Dravid, the management chose to keep both senior batters on the bench and provided an opportunity to Ruturaj Gaikwad, who isn’t part of the ODI plans for the upcoming World Cup due to his commitments at the Asian Games during the same period.
For the third ODI, Jaydev Unadkat and Gaikwad were brought into the side, replacing Umran Malik and the in-form Axar Patel.
During the toss, Hardik Pandya was reminded of India’s impressive record against the West Indies in bilateral ODI series, having not lost one since 2006 and winning 12 straight series. If India were to lose that day, Pandya would be the captain under whom this streak would be broken.
At the toss – India haven't lost a bilateral ODI series in more than a decade Vs WI. You don't want to be the captain to break the trend?
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 1, 2023
Hardik Pandya – "it's okay to be unique". pic.twitter.com/ynK7C1wQND
😂😂
— T.J. Detweiler (@TJDetweiler03) August 1, 2023
mere gharwale to me – "aaj tak gharane me koi fail nai hua hai"
me – "it's okay to be unique"
Aisa unique bhi nahi banna hai bhai 😭
— Dr Khushboo 🇮🇳 (@khushbookadri) August 1, 2023
Pandu it can be okay for you but not for us to lose to a team who ain’t even playing cwc 🤢🤢
— Bateman (@baldaati) August 1, 2023
How can someone with such losing mentality can be made captain?
— Ansh Shah (@asmemesss) August 1, 2023
The host asked Pandya about the pressure of potentially being the captain to end that longstanding streak, to which Pandya responded with confidence, “It’s okay to be unique.”