Team India have already taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.
With this win, the Men in Blue took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. The third ODI will be played at the same venue on Monday (August 20).
For the dead-rubber fixture, veteran batter Robin Uthappa wants the Indian team to make some changes. He expects Avesh Khan, Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar should form India’s pace attack in the final ODI.
“Definitely, I think Chahar will come back into the frame, I think Avesh Khan will get a game and Prasidh might get a break. Maybe Siraj could also get a break, Shardul would play, I think. They have anyway decided to rotate the fast bowlers so that everyone remains fresh,” Uthappa was quoted as saying to Sony Sports Network.
Uthappa also opined that it would be unfair if Rahul Tripathi and Ruturaj Gaikwad don’t get an opportunity to showcase their skills.
“As far as batting is concerned, I don’t know if they will make too many changes. Shahbaz may get a game, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rahul Tripathi have been waiting in the wings for a while. It will be unfair if they don’t get a game and it will also be unfair to the youngsters who are playing right now, for example, Shubman Gill, who is in such great form,” he stated.
“Ishan Kishan has got one innings to bat, so if he gets replaced and somebody else comes in instead of them, they would feel undone as well, because when the senior pros do come back into the side, they are going to miss out anyway. So, it’s a hard one to pick, to be very honest,” Uthappa added.
Coming to the second ODI, India bundled out the hosts for a paltry 161 in 38.1 overs after opting to bowl first. Shardul Thakur starred with the ball for the visitors, claiming three wickets by conceding 38 runs in his seven overs.
In reply, the tourists overhauled the target in 25.4 overs. While they lost their four wickets inside 100 runs, Sanju Samson’s unbeaten 43 off 39 balls eventually took them over the line with ease.