There is speculation that Rohit, Shami and one of the spinners could skip Sunday’s match
DUBAI: Will India rest a few senior players and give chances to those warming the bench in their last Group A fixture against New Zealand on Sunday? Considering that both teams have qualified for the last four, the game is a dead rubber, offering a perfect chance to test out the alternatives.
India’s semifinal game will follow just a day after the match against the Black Caps, giving Rohit Sharma and Co. little time to recuperate. India’s sole motivation in the clash against the Kiwis is topping Group A by beating them, but that doesn’t weigh much against the importance of having a fully-fit squad available for the semifinal.
When the team last trained, on Wednesday, it went through an intense three-hour session at the ICC Academy, with batters practising their big hits.
Rohit Sharma, though, avoided batting in the nets. India’s captain instead chose to only hit a few tennis balls with his racquet, as the players indulged in a unique game of catching practice which involved the ball ricocheting off one player’s helmet.
Apparently, Rohit went easy during training in order to rest his hamstring, while Shubman Gill was resting at the hotel. The 37-year-old briefly went to the dressing room during Pakistan’s innings but then returned to the field. The veteran opener batted during India’s successful chase of 242, making 20 off 15 balls, with three fours and one six.
There is speculation that Rohit, pacer Mohammed Shami and one of the spinners – either Ravindra Jadeja or Kuldeep Yadav – could skip Sunday’s match. With New Zealand having a plethora of left-handers, off-spinning allrounder Washington Sundar may get a look-in.
If Shami is rested, left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh could make his Champions Trophy debut. If Rohit takes a break, Rahul may open the innings and ‘keeper-bat Rishabh Pant could get a look-in.