Indian skipper Virat Kohli made three changes in the playing XI for the third and final ODI of the three-match ODI series against the hosts England at Leeds. However, former Indian Test specialist cricketer VVS Laxman has not impressed with the decision.
While the series is currently 1-1 level prior to the third and final ODI of the series, Indian skipper Virat Kohli dropped in-form KL Rahul and brought another in-form cricketer Dinesh Karthik and VVS Laxman has not liked it very much.
Also read: Parvinder Awana announces retirement from cricket
Laxman feels disappointed if this replacement not happened due to the injuries. He believes that this is not the right process to treat a youngster.
The 43-year-old told ESPNcricinfo, “Well. if the changes are not because of injuries then I am really disappointed. The reason for that is, this is not the first time this is happening with KL Rahul. It’s just one inning where he failed. In the first match, he was unbeaten when India won the match at Trent Bridge. If you treat a player, especially when you know that he is a class player. You have to make sure he performs well. I think this is not the way to treat a youngster.”
Also read: BCCI will announce the Test squad after the third ODI
After scoring a brilliant century in the first T20I of the ongoing English tour, KL Rahul has scored 6, 19, 9* and 0 respectively. In the crucial final ODI, Rahul has been dropped who is in a dream batting form in the recent cricket, especially as an opener. But, in this tour, he hasn’t come to bat as an opener yet.
Also read: Azhar Ali joins Somerset as the replacement of Matt Renshaw
However, his replacement Dinesh Karthik is also in a good form in the recent cricket who was the hero in the T20I tri-series Nidahas trophy final in last March. But, Laxman has the only issue with the Rahul’s missing out from the squad.
Apart from that change, pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar also returned in the squad after getting fit for the match and another pacer Shardul Thakur also earned a chance while Umesh Yadav and Siddarth Kaul are dropped out from this game.
India’s playing XI: Virat Kohli (Captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni (Wicket-keeper), Dinesh Karthik, Suresh Raina, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Shardul Thakur and Bhuvneshwar Kumar
