In a surprising move, Indian cricket captain, Virat Kohli, along with Rohit Sharma, decided to rest for the second One Day International (ODI) against the West Indies. The decision to give other batters an opportunity didn’t quite go as planned for India, as they suffered a six-wicket defeat.
While Kohli didn’t bat in the first ODI, he chose to sit out the entire second match and was seen involved in the game as a drinks carrier during the Indian innings. This is not the first time Kohli has performed this task when not playing. He has previously been seen doing so during the 2017 Dharamsala Test match against Australia, where he captained the team.
India’s batting performance was disappointing as they were all out for just 181 runs in 41 overs, despite starting well at 90/0 in the 17th over. Only Ishan Kishan managed to score a half-century, while Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav couldn’t capitalize on their starts. Players like Sanju Samson and Axar Patel, who were fighting for spots in the lineup, failed to make an impression. The Indian team struggled after a promising start, resulting in a comprehensive loss.
Chasing a target of 182, the West Indies faced some early setbacks after Kyle Mayers got them off to a quick start. However, captain Shai Hope once again played a crucial role, top-scoring with 63 off 80 balls. He found support from Keacy Carty, and the duo’s unbeaten 91-run partnership for the fifth wicket guided the West Indies to a comfortable victory.
In the first ODI, the West Indies were bowled out for just 114 runs, with Hope being the only player to offer substantial resistance with 43 runs. Rohit and Kohli, on the other hand, chose to come lower down the order, but eventually, Rohit had to step in at No.7 as India lost half their batting lineup for 97 runs. Although Rohit scored the winning runs in the first match, luck was not on India’s side this time.
With the series now level at 1-1, it remains to be seen if India will continue experimenting with their squad in the decisive third ODI or if they will field their best team for a comeback victory. The loss highlights the importance of rested players like Kohli and Sharma in the Indian lineup. The team will need to regroup and strategize to turn the tide in their favor and secure a series win against a determined West Indies side.
As the cricketing action unfolds, the fans eagerly await the next ODI to witness how India will respond to the defeat and whether the rested players will return to the playing eleven. The third ODI is expected to be a riveting affair as both teams battle it out for supremacy.
