While the Indian cricket team is busy in the New Zealand tour to play the five-match ODI series and three-match T20I series, the Indian skipper Virat Kohli has been rested for the last two ODIs and the subsequent entire T20I series of this tour.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has released the statement about this where they have claimed that the decision has been taken after the views of the team management and Senior selection committee about the recent workload of Kohli.
The BCCI press release claimed, “Considering his workload in the last few months, the team management and Senior selection committee is of the view that it would be ideal for him to get adequate rest ahead of the home series against Australia.”
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It means that the Indian limited-overs opener Rohit Sharma will lead the national side in the last two ODIs as well as the entire T20I series of the ongoing New Zealand tour. The Indian cricket board hasn’t announced yet any replacement of Virat Kohli for those matches.
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While the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup is just four months away to begin, BCCI is focusing this rotation policy since the early last year. The Indian skipper Kohli has been rested in several international series/tournaments since early 2018.
In last March, Kohli was rested from the T20I tri-series Nidahas Trophy (hosts Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh) that was won by the Indian cricket team under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy. Later, prior to the long UK tour, he also missed the one-off home Test match against the Test debutant Afghanistan.
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Once again, Kohli was entirely rested during the 2018 Asia Cup in UAE in last year that was also won by the Indian cricket team under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy. Later, Kohli was rested during the home t20I series against Windies. Now, he has been rested for the later part of the ongoing New Zealand tour.
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Here are some Twitter reactions:
Virat Kohli rested for the remaining two ODIs and the T20I series on this New Zealand tour!
It will be first time this decade that Kohli will be missing an ODI outside Asia excluding Zimbabwe for any reason – rested/dropped/injured.
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) January 23, 2019
Kohli rested from Srilanka Series in 2017 for ODI n t20s
Kohli Rested from Nidahas Trophy.
Kohli Rested from Asia Cup Due to Injury.
Kohli rested from WI T20 Series.
Agree with all the rest he has taken from this series but Against Nz in ODI😒@imVkohli @BCCI
— Thalapathy Virat Praveen (@mafiapraveen) January 23, 2019
panic decision. #letsseehowgillgoes. kohli rested almost 15 t20's in last 1 year #sucking
— bleed blue (@paruchuri_siva) January 23, 2019
Kohli get rested too many T20s ,played few last year ,seems like we have to watch IPL to see T20 mode activated Kohli😥
— AROMAL (@aromal_tc) January 23, 2019
So Kohli is rested. Good move by the management considering we have a home series + IPL after this tour. Also think Gill can make a debut..#NZvIND
— Direct Hit (@bevdashastri) January 23, 2019
So Kohli has been rested for next 2 matches.. I think Williamson should also take rest and let these kids play the next 2 matches #INDvNZ
— Tiilooo 2.0 (@KasamCinemaaki) January 23, 2019
Virat Kohli has been rested for last two ODIs and T20s of the #NZ series. Rohit Sharma will captain #TeamIndia in his absence. No replacement player has been named for Kohli.
First time #RohitSharma will be Captain in outside Asia for Full series..🔥🔥#NZvIND #INDvNZ @ImRo45 pic.twitter.com/eJHJU6PXd2
— Rohit Sharma🔥 (@ImRohitian) January 23, 2019
when you were hoping to watch Kohli-Gill bat together but Kohli gets rested so Gill can play pic.twitter.com/hKxE9Bt2K2
— po (@JoBhejiThiDuaa) January 23, 2019
Kohli rested because of workload.
More like, 'BC middle order walon ko bhi thoda khelne do'
— SwingAndSeam (@swing_seam) January 23, 2019
Virat kohli rested for final two odi and t20i. Rohit will take over the captaincy from Kohli. No replacement named so far for Kohli. Hope India will wrap up the one day series before kohli's departure.
— Dream Predictors (@GeekPredictors) January 23, 2019
Should have rested #Kohli for home series against Australia. But TV ratings! 😭
— Harsha ہرشا (@Hramblings) January 23, 2019
#Asktheexpert @StarSportsIndia Shouldn't Virat kohli be rested as well because he has also been playing continuously? We can't risk him at all as WC is around the corner.
— Ravindra Gupta (@ravgpt) January 23, 2019
So,Now both Kohli and Bumrah
=>"Backbone" of indian attack in batting & bowling departments have been rested for New Zealand T20Is.Very eager to see the result of the series.Hope it will in India's fever.😉#NzVInd#TeamIndia
— Smit Hapani (@SmitHapani) January 23, 2019
Kohli rested… so Rohit to score twin hundreds and claim #1 ranking? 🤔
— Stumps !! (@StraighttDrive) January 23, 2019
A sad news for Indian cricket fan's Virat Kohli has been rested for the last two odi and T20 series. pic.twitter.com/qFn5mRlSMb
— Atanu Mukherjee (@iamAtanum) January 23, 2019
kohli's been rested for last 2 odis and the T20 series?! idk how to feel about this pic.twitter.com/Ll7Yki4Y5B
— ًsaumya (@CineCaffeine) January 23, 2019