Virat Kohli rested for last two NZ ODIs and T20I series

The Indian team management has decided to rest Indian skipper Virat Kohli for the last two ODIs and the T20I series against New Zealand to manage his workload ahead of the World Cup. Opening batsman Rohit Sharma will lead the team in the absence of Kohli.

BCCI rests Kohli to keep him fit ahead of the AUS series

The BCCI said in a press release that India captain Virat Kohli will be rested for the fourth and fifth ODI against New Zealand and the subsequent T20I series. BCCI explained that 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.

Team India has a busy schedule ahead of the World Cup in England. After the tour of New Zealand, team India will play a ODI series against Australia at home and then there is IPL as well.

No replacement named for Kohli

The BCCI also made it clear that there will be no replacement for Mr. Kohli in the squad for the New Zealand series. This means that India will try one of the batsmen from the current squad at number three.

India have Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav and Dinesh Karthik in the squad and chances of Rayudu grabbing the number three spot are high as he has batted at this position in the past as well.

India defeat New Zealand in the first ODI

Clinical. #TeamIndia start off the series with a 8-wicket win against New Zealand in the 1st ODI. 1-0 ???? #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/P4lLKjoCvu

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 23, 2019

Meanwhile in the first ODI team India registered a thumping win against the hosts to go up 1-0 in the ODI series. Mohammad Shami accounted for the top order and then Kuldeep Yadav blew apart New Zealand’s tailenders as the hosts were bundled out for a paltry score of just 156 runs. India chased the target with ease as Shikhar Dhawan scored an unbeaten half-century.