ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 is around the corner. All teams are running last time checking ahead of the biggest tournament. Currently, India is playing a three-match ODI series against Australia on home soil. It is the last series for both teams before the World Cup. India has announced two different squads for these three matches.
In the first two ODI, senior players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Hardik Pandya were rested. In the absence of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul was appointed as captain in those two matches. Rohit and other senior players are set to come back in this squad in the third and final ODI. Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh wants KL Rahul to be rested for the final ODI in Rajkot.
Harbhajan Singh’s comment:
KL Rahul captained India in the first two ODIs. in both matches, India registered impressive wins ahead of the World Cup. He said, “ KL Rahul has played two matches and played well in both. As a captain, he won both games. I feel he should be rested. Suryakumar Yadav should bat at no. 5 and Hardik Pandya at no. 6, Ravindra Jadeja should bat at no. 7, while Kuldeep Yadav should be at no. 8, Mohammed Shami No. 9, then Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah.
He also added, “ I feel Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan will open, while Virat Kohli will come in at no. 3. Shreyas Iyer scored a brilliant hundred. When a player has one or two bad games, the whole world is after him. He is a wonderful player, support him. He is in the World Cup squad and has just returned from the injury.”
KL Rahul’s form ahead of the World Cup:
KL Rahul got injured in an IPL match for Lukhnow Supergiants. After a long setback, he came back in the Asia Cup. he played his first match after coming back, against Pakistan in the Super 4 stage. On that day Rahul was in a beast form. He played an unbeaten innings of 111 in 106 balls. It contains 9 boundaries and 3 over boundaries, with a strike rate of 129.79.
After the Asia Cup, India is playing an ODI series against Australia. The World Cup is around the corner. Indian team management is not taking a risk of any player’s health. That’s why they opted for a rotational rest system. In the first two matches, KL Rahul was captain in the absence of Rohit Sharma.
As a captain, he led the team from the front. In the first ODI, he scored 58. In the second ODI, he played a responsible innings of 52 in 38 balls with a strike rate of 136.84. Under his captaincy, India won the first match by 5 wickets. In the second match, India defeated Australia by 99 runs. Despite those impressive wins, India is leading the series by 2-0.
A few days left for the biggest tournament to start. This series win is a big boost for India before the World Cup. Australia needs to rectify its mistakes before the World Cup. The tournament is starting from October 5. England and New Zealand will lock horns in the inaugural match of the World Cup.
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