Following a commanding 99-run victory over Australia in a rain-affected match in Indore, the Indian cricket team, led by KL Rahul, is on the brink of securing an emphatic whitewash in the three-match ODI series. This impressive display comes just days after their triumph in the series opener in Mohali, and it follows their record-breaking eighth Asia Cup championship. According to reports, India will be without two of their star players, Shubman Gill and Shardul Thakur, ahead of the series finale on September 27 in Rajkot.
In a move strategically planned by the team management, Shubman Gill, who recently etched his name in history with his sixth ODI century at the Holkar Stadium, and Shardul Thakur, will be absent from the third and final match of the series in Rajkot. They will not accompany the team to Rajkot as they have been granted a well-deserved break. Instead, the duo will regroup with the Indian squad in Guwahati as preparations intensify for India's inaugural warm-up match leading up to the World Cup.
The Indian team management has been diligently crafting plans to ensure the optimal performance of select players in the lead-up to the World Cup. Earlier in the series, prominent players including Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and Kuldeep Yadav were given a respite from the first two games against Australia. BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar clarified the decision, emphasizing the importance of providing players with mental rejuvenation, especially in the context of a tournament as significant as the World Cup.
These rested players will return to the fold for the third and final match against Australia at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium. Furthermore, star bowler Jasprit Bumrah will rejoin the Indian team in Rajkot after a brief break to visit his family, as confirmed in a BCCI statement. Mukesh Kumar had temporarily replaced him in the squad.
In a recent development, all-rounder Axar Patel has been ruled out of the third match due to a lingering left quadriceps strain that he had incurred during the Asia Cup tournament. He is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.
While Axar Patel's absence presents an opportunity for Ravichandran Ashwin to secure his third consecutive appearance for India in the ODI series against Australia, selectors remain optimistic about Axar's recovery in time for the World Cup warm-up matches. This decision may pose a significant challenge for the team management, as they weigh the prospect of including Ashwin in the World Cup squad amidst Axar's ongoing injury concerns.
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 "India's Shubman Gill and Shardul Thakur rested for 3rd ODI; Axar Patel ruled out")
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