Why Rohit Sharma, Virat not playing in IND vs WI 2nd ODI? Hardik Pandya to lead | India vs West Indies

IND vs WI 2nd ODI: Team India's team selection took all the cricket fans on a surprise ride during the toss of the ongoing IND vs WI 2nd ODI in Barbados. The Indian playing11 saw big surprise changes for the game, which is being led by all-rounder Hardik Pandya. The absence of regular skipper Rohit Sharma from the 2nd ODI certainly raised a few concerns. Down below is the reason why Rohit Sharma, Virat are not playing in IND vs WI 2nd ODI.

Not seeing Rohit Sharma walking along the ground for the toss was a big eyebrow-raiser for the fans, who again thought it was some injury scare for the Indian team. Later, when the playing11 was revealed, Virat Kohli was also missing from the list.

Hardik, who will be leading the team in the 2nd IND vs WI ODI, confirmed that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been rested for the contest as they have been playing cricket consistently for a long time.

?Ro (Rohit Sharma) and Virat (Kohli) have been playing constant cricket. We thought they should rest for this game and be fresh for the third ODI. So, that's just it, they're resting and making sure the opportunity is given to the other guys,? said Hardik Pandya during the toss.

The all-rounder indicated that the Indian management wants to test fringe players ahead of the Asia Cup 2023.

?It's just that there are few questions that need to be answered,? Hardik added indicating India's approach to give game time to younger players before it's too late.

Notably, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are actively involved since the start of the year. Their new year began with the ODI series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand followed by a big test and ODI leg against Australia in February. Both the batters then turned up for their franchises for the Tata Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023.

The conclusion of the IPL 2023 brought them into the limelight for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2023 in England against Australia. The WTC Final was followed by the recently concluded two-game test series against West Indies.

Therefore, it's been a long rope for the Indian stalwarts. Moreover, the BCCI would want both, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, to remain fresh and not burn out before the most anticipated ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, which will be held in India later this year.

IND vs WI 2nd ODI Playing11

Team India brought in Sanju Samson and Axar Patel in place of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who have been rested. Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan would open the innings, as they did in the first ODI. Team India is heading into this game with three spinners and as many pacers.

Down below are India and West Indies playing11 for the 2nd ODI:

India: Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan(w), Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya(c), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Umran Malik, Mukesh Kumar

West Indies: Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Alick Athanaze, Shai Hope(w/c), Shimron Hetmyer, Keacy Carty, Romario Shepherd, Yannic Cariah, Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph, Jayden Seales

ALSO READ: ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Tickets to be available from August 10, IND vs PAK World Cup Ticket, How to book World Cup 2023 Tickets?

For more details head to ICC?s official website.