In the first ODI against the West Indies, Virat Kohli did not bat, and in the second ODI, he decided to rest alongside captain Rohit Sharma, giving other batters a chance to shine. Unfortunately, India’s plan didn’t go as expected, with only Ishan Kishan managing to score a half-century, while Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav made promising starts but couldn’t capitalize.
Even players like Sanju Samson and Axar Patel, who were competing for spots in the lineup, failed to impress, resulting in India’s six-wicket loss. It’s not uncommon to see Kohli carrying drinks when he’s part of the squad but not playing. This was evident during the 2017 Dharamsala Test match between India and Australia when he was captaining the team.
During that match, Ajinkya Rahane took charge in Kohli’s absence due to an injury. Despite having a modest target of 182 to chase, the West Indies’ pursuit wasn’t smooth, and they relied on their captain, Shai Hope, to once again top the scoring chart. Kyle Mayers provided a quick start with 36 runs off 28 balls, propelling the hosts to 53 runs in 8.1 overs.
However, his dismissal triggered a mini-collapse for the West Indies until Hope found a reliable partner in Keacy Carty. Together, they forged an unbeaten 91-run partnership for the fifth wicket, securing a victory for the West Indies. Hope himself contributed 63 runs off 80 deliveries.
1 hi to ❤️ hai, kitne baar jeetoge? King Kohli turns water boy!
— FanCode (@FanCode) July 29, 2023
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In the first ODI, Hope had played a lone warrior role, scoring 43 off 45 balls, while the rest of the West Indies team collapsed and was bowled out for 114 runs. During that match, both Rohit and Kohli came lower down the batting order, with Rohit even walking in at No. 7 as India lost half their lineup for 97 runs.
Ultimately, Rohit managed to score the winning runs, but it wasn’t enough to secure victory for India on that Saturday. As they head into the decisive third ODI, it remains to be seen whether India will continue experimenting with the squad or opt for their best possible lineup.