The 32-year-old New Zealand bowling all-rounder Todd Astle has been selected for the last two ODIs squad of the ongoing five-match home ODI series against India. However, he is not very happy and he also opened out the reason.
The host side New Zealand has already lost the ODI series as they are trailing the series by 3-0 with two ODIs to go. For the last two ODIs of the series, New Zealand has made two changes in their squad as James Neesham and Todd Astle have replaced Doug Bracewell and Ish Sodhi respectively.
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But despite his selection, the leg-spinner Astle is not very happy as he wanted to bowl the Indian skipper and the no.1 Test and ODI ranked batsman Virat Kohli, who is set to miss the remaining limited-over matches of the series.
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Though Kohli led the Indian side in the first three ODIs of the tour, earlier it was decided that he would take rest from the tour after the first three ODIs. It means, Kohli will miss out the last two ODIs of the ongoing series as well as the three subsequent T20Is of this tour.
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As he is really admired on the Indian skipper Virat Kohli, Astle wanted to bowl to him. But while Kohli is not featuring in the remaining limited-overs matches of this tour, Astle feels disappointed.
Astle told the reporters, “I was actually gutted [not to play Kohli], I have loved watching him play the last decade. He has been someone that I really admire, so, to not come up against him, I think that little childhood boy inside of me was a little bit gutted, you want to test yourself against the best.”
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Since making his international cricket debut in 2012, Todd Astle has played three Tests, six ODIs and two T20Is. Though Kohli is not playing, Astle added that the whole Indian batting line-up is jam-packed with rock stars and it will help him to make improvements.
Astle said, “Having said that their whole line-up is jam-packed with rock stars, so it will be a chance to see how you go and then from that where you can make those improvements.”