BCCI Faces Criticism for Resting Virat Kohli in Australia ODIs: Mumbai Lobby Defends Sachin’s Record
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is facing mounting pressure from disappointed fans due to the decision to rest Virat Kohli for the first and second ODIs against Australia in preparation for the ICC World Cup.
Ever since Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar revealed Team India’s lineup for the highly anticipated One Day International (ODI) series against Australia, scheduled just before the ICC event, the BCCI has been criticized. India, the hosts of the 2023 World Cup, are set to compete in a three-match ODI series against the five-time world champions, making this their final assignment before the prestigious tournament. Notably, the renowned batsman Virat Kohli has been given a break for the initial two ODIs of the Australia series.
Intriguingly, for the first two games of the ODI series, both skipper Rohit Sharma and the prolific run-scorer Kohli, along with vice-captain Hardik Pandya and spinner Kuldeep Yadav, have been rested. Top-order batsman Rahul will lead the side in Kohli’s absence during these initial matches. Following the squad announcement, some cricket enthusiasts expressed their discontent with the BCCI’s decision not to include Kohli in India’s lineup for the first two ODIs against Australia.
Criticism was directed at the BCCI for resting Virat Kohli from the Australia ODIs, with one fan accusing the Mumbai lobby of trying to protect Sachin Tendulkar’s records. Another disgruntled fan added, “Dirty politics. Being a Virat Kohli fan isn’t easy.” Captain Rohit Sharma and former captain Kohli are set to feature in the final ODI of the Australia series, scheduled for September 27 at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot.
Kohli’s remarkable achievement in the Asia Cup recently saw him break Sachin Tendulkar’s world record. In a thrilling Asia Cup encounter against arch-rivals Pakistan, Kohli delivered a match-winning century, making him the fastest batter to reach 13,000 ODI runs during the Super 4 stage of the continental tournament. Kohli achieved this milestone in just 267 innings, whereas Tendulkar took 321 innings to accomplish the same feat in ODIs.
With a fit-again Rahul leading the Indian side in the first two ODIs, the veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has been brought back for the three-game series. Both Ashwin and Washington Sundar are available for all three ODIs against Australia, as all-rounder Axar Patel is recovering from a hamstring injury. Axar’s participation in the 3rd ODI against Australia is contingent on his fitness, although he has been selected for the match.
