Shubman Gill and KL Rahul are all set to exit from India's ODI team for the final two ODIs against New Zealand and begin their preparations for the forthcoming Test assignment. When the Indian team for the New Zealand tour was announced, it was already confirmed that Gill and Rahul would not be available for the final two ODIs. However, former India cricketer Dodda Ganesh isn't happy seeing two of India's top players skipping the remainder of the series.
While it's important for Rahul and Gill - two of the most important batters for India in red-ball cricket - to get accustomed to red-ball cricket before the series begins, their ODI stints were also quite limited, primarily because of persistent rain interruptions.
The duo didn't even take the field in the third ODI as the match was abandoned without a ball being bowled. Ganesh, hence is questioning, if skipping the final two ODIs is the right call.
"Should Gill and KL Rahul rest for the last two ODIs? Considering the amount of game time they've had in the first 3 ODIs I don't think it's a wise idea to pull out of the ODI series. I understand the test match simulation and all that, but a proper game of cricket will prepare you much better than facing thousands of red balls in the net," Dodda Ganesh said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Test specialists will start preparing for the series from November 11, with skipper Shubman Gill, senior opener KL Rahul, left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav, and pacer Anshul Kamboj leaving for Wellington on Wednesday.
The coaching team will also be split, with head coach Gautam Gambhir staying back for the fourth and fifth ODIs scheduled on November 13 and 15 at Mount Maunganui in Tauranga.
With PTI Inputs
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