The response of Rahul Dravid to tinkering with the starting XI and benching Virat and Rohit

India’s leading batsmen, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, were benched for the second One-Day International against the West Indies, and vice-captain Hardik Pandya took their places. Before hosting the much anticipated ICC World Cup in 2023, the visitors wanted to “find answers to some questions,” according to the acting skipper. Sanju Samson and Axar Patel, for example, received chances as a result.

To their surprise, though, the decision to rest Kohli and Rohit had a disastrous outcome. India, who had been requested to bat first, was bowled out for 181 and was unable to bat for the full 50 overs. Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill put up a strong 90-run opening stand, but the guys in blue managed to last till the 41st over. Sanju scored 9 off 19 while Axar Patel, who stepped out as number 4, could only manage 1 run in 8 deliveries before returning wicketless. The world cup hopefuls also struggled. As a response, the home team successfully chased down the target and won the match by six wickets to tie the series at one game each.

However, watchers of the game had numerous issues, particularly over the choice to sit the two team veterans, as Pandya had said before the game. Rahul Dravid, the team’s head coach, defended the approach in a press conference after the six-wicket defeat. He said that for determining the starting XI for the next games, India will use a similar approach.

“I believe that we will always consider the larger picture. To be really honest with you, given the upcoming World Cup and Asia Cup as well as the injuries we now have, we must consider the larger picture at this point in the cycle. We must consider such things. We shouldn’t worry about each individual game or series. I believe it would be a mistake if we did that,” he remarked.

Given that it has evolved into a series finale, it seems likely that Virat and Rohit will return for the last ODI in Trinidad. After the second game on Saturday, Pandya said of the third face-off, “Being a turtle at the moment, not a rabbit. I’m hoping the World Cup goes smoothly. Now that the series is tied at one, both they and us will be put to the test. The next game will be thrilling for both spectators and participants.