IND v NZ 2023: WATCH - “Ranchi mein Ishan bolega mujhe bhi khilaao,” Rohit reacts as Patidar not getting a chance in Indore

Rajat Patidar warmed the bench during the ODI series against New Zealand.

Rohit Sharma | BCCIIndia completed a 3-0 clean sweep over New Zealand with a thumping 90-run victory in the third and final ODI in Indore on Tuesday (January 24).

Invited to bat first, the Men in Blue piled up a gigantic 385/9 in their allotted 50 overs on the back of stunning centuries from Shubman Gill (112 off 78 balls) and Rohit Sharma (101 off 85 balls).

Despite Devon Conway’s century (138 off 100 balls), New Zealand’s innings folded for 295 in 41.2 overs as no other batter managed to touch the 50-run mark.

Having taken an unassailable lead in the series by winning the first two games, the Indian team management decided to rest fast bowlers Mohammad Shami and Mohammed Siraj from the dead-rubber third ODI.

However, there was no change in the batting line-up as uncapped KS Bharat and Rajat Patidar warmed the bench.

After the match, a reporter asked Rohit Sharma about Rajat's absence from the playing XI, stating that if he could have gotten a game at his home ground in Indore.

To which, the Indian skipper replied: "We will play him if there's a place, Sir. There is a Virat Kohli at number 3, Ishan Kishan at number 4, who sat out after scoring a double century. Suryakumar Yadav is at number 5 and the whole world knows what he is doing and there's a Hardik Pandya at number 6. So, there should be a space."

"We want everyone to play, but that cannot happen until we have enough space. I know we should have played him in Indore...Ranchi, Jharkhand mein Ishan Kishan bhi bolega mujhe bhi khilaao yaar mein Ranchi ka hu (In Ranchi, Jharkhand, Ishan Kishan will say he should play as he is from Ranchi). It doesn't happen like that. We have a plan, the boys will get a chance...many are waiting in line."

Rajat Patidar was part of India’s squad for the ODI series against South Africa and Bangladesh last year but he didn’t get an opportunity. Patidar wasn’t included in the squad for the home ODI series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand. However, Shreyas Iyer got injured ahead of the New Zealand ODI series and he was called up as a replacement.

Patidar isn't part of the T20I squad that will take on New Zealand in a three-match series, starting January 27 in Ranchi.

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 26 Jan, 2023

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