New Delhi. Now there are only 15 days until the World Cup. Before that, Team India will play a three-match ODI series against Australia starting September 22 to complete its preparations. Two teams have been selected for this series, yes you heard it right, game three and team two. Senior players of the team like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been given a break from the first two ODIs. At the same time, Hardik Pandya will also not play in the first two games. Questions are being raised over Kohli being granted rest. Why was he rested against a strong team like Australia when he hasn’t played much cricket? Let us understand what impact a rest for Kohli can have on Team India’s World Cup hopes.
Kohli was given a break as part of workload management but he has not batted in three of the last seven ODIs. There were different reasons for this. This means he hasn’t played much cricket. In such a situation, it is natural to ask questions about calm. India has played 48 ODIs in the last two years. Of these, Kohli played in 29 games and sat out 19. This means he didn’t play more than 40 percent of the ODIs. In his 14-15 year ODI career, he has never missed so many matches in a span of two years. Even before a tournament like the World Cup, he has never taken a break in so many games. In such a situation, a question must be asked. What harm could there be in giving Virat a break and could it impact India’s World Cup campaign?
Ahead of the World Cup, Kohli can’t have a better opportunity than the Australia series to test his preparations. But Kohli will not play the first two ODIs against Australia. While all of Australia’s key players are coming to this series. If Kohli had played especially against their fast bowlers, his preparation for the World Cup would have been stronger and one or two big innings would have been enough to boost the confidence of players like Virat.
Kohli practices in Indian conditions
Kohli last played ODI in India in March. After that, he didn’t play any ODIs at home. The last time he only played at home was against Australia. Then he could only score half a century. The Indian team also lost the 3rd ODI series. Mitchell Starc had worried him greatly. In such a situation, he had a chance to overcome his shortcomings in the ODI series from September 22.
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There is no better warm-up game than the Australia series
In any case, Kohli is a very fit player. In his 15-year career, it was very rare for him to get injured and miss a major tournament due to the workload. In such a situation, it would have been important for him and India’s World Cup campaign if he had played the entire series against Australia and scored runs. This is because India already has to play two warm-up matches before the World Cup, but there will be a big difference between a two-match match against Australia and a practice match.
