Ind vs Aus ODI Series: 3 Players who should be rested for the first 3 ODIs

Kohli & Co will have a lot of thinking to do ahead of the World Cup
Kohli & Co will have a lot of thinking to do ahead of the World Cup

The Indian team has reached the crucial stage of final preparations for the World Cup later this year. The team is left with a mere 5 ODIs to experiment before the start of the mega event. The Indian selectors and team management should make use of this final opportunity to identify the players who are going to fill in the last 3 vacant spots in the World Cup squad.

Concurrently, the near certainties should be given ample match practice to introspect their form and fitness one last time. Hence, it will be difficult for the selectors to accomplish all these interrelated objectives within a span of 5 matches.

To start with, the selectors can adopt the strategy of resting a few of the key players for the first 3 ODIs and use this opportunity to test the fringe players. The key players can make a comeback for the last two ODIs in place of other certainties who have shown encouraging form in the first 3 ODIs. That way the fringe players would get an extended opportunity of 5 matches to prove their mettle one final time ahead of the World Cup.

In any case, since Australia would also be in a frame of mind to experiment to arrive at their perfect combination for the World Cup, it would only even out. We might still witness a closely fought ODI series.

In this article, we will discuss the 3 key Indian players who should be rested for the first 3 ODIs against Australia.

#3. Yuzvendra Chahal

Both the wrist-spinners Chahal and Kuldeep should not be exposed in tandem before the World Cup
Both the wrist-spinners Chahal and Kuldeep should not be exposed in tandem before the World Cup

Chahal has played the entire 5-match ODI series against New Zealand. He is in decent form and a near certainty for the World Cup. He should be rested for the first 3 matches and his place should be taken up by Ravindra Jadeja.

Jadeja, though a part of the Indian squad in New Zealand, never got his opportunity. Besides, it would not be in the team’s interest to expose both the wrist spinners, Chahal and Kuldeep in tandem to Australia before the World Cup.

Chahal could return for the last two ODIs in place of Kuldeep Yadav.

#2. Bhuvneswar Kumar

Bhuvi deserves a rest after his recent workload
Bhuvi deserves a rest after his recent workload

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been on the road since the first ODI against Australia at Sydney. In the absence of his bowling partner Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvi had to shoulder the responsibility of the main strike bowler in Australia and New Zealand. Bhuvi did his job admirably well. He had played in 8 ODIs and 3 T20Is within a span of one month and deserves a rest.

While Bhuvi’s place would be taken up Jasprit Bumrah, players like Umesh Yadav and Khaleel Ahmed should also get a final look in.

Bhuvi could return for the final 2 ODIs either in place of Bumrah or Shami.

#1 Rohit Sharma

The new dad is entitled to spend quality time with his family
The new dad is entitled to spend quality time with his family

Like Bhuvi, Rohit Sharma has been part of the entire ODI and T20I series down under. Being a new dad, he should spend quality time with his family to rejuvenate himself before the World Cup.

Rohit’s place can be taken up either by K.L. Rahul or Ajinkya Rahane. Both are very much part of Team India’s scheme of things for the World Cup. Rohit could replace the other opener, Shikhar Dhawan, for the last 2 ODIs.

If players like M.S. Dhoni and Hardik Pandya show decent form in the first 3 ODIs, they could be replaced by Rishabh Pant and Vijay Shankar respectively for the last 2 ODIs.

By rotating players in the above manner in the 5 matches ODI series against Australia, the key players would get fair opportunity to fine-tune them one final time before the World Cup. At the same time, the fringe players who are at the brink of selection would get more opportunities to press their claim.

Besides, for players like Ambati Rayadu, Kedar Jadhav and Dinesh Karthik, it would be yet another extended opportunity to hit top form and build in the much-needed confidence ahead of the World Cup. For once, too much of tinkering around with the team would be to the team's advantage.

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Edited by Kaushal Raj