Watch: Virat Kohli's Epic Reaction As Ravindra Jadeja Asks For Helmet Against Spinner

16.07.2023 - 03:21 sports.ndtv.com

India completely outplayed West Indies in the first Test match in Dominica but not before the pitch produced a few surprises for the visitors.

There were clear cracks on the playing surface by Day 2 and a few deliveries produced movements that took the batters by surprise.

On Day 3, a delivery from Kraigg Brathwaite landed on one of the cracks and it spun and bounced steeply much to the amazement of Ravindra Jadeja.

Jadeja quickly called for a helmet considering the unpredictable movement of the deliveries and even Virat Kohli could not hide his emotions, producing a cheeky smile.

cricket 2023 West Indies vs India Helmet as watch Virat Kohli Yashasvi Jaiswal Ravindra Jadeja India Dominica

Team India faced a shocking a six-wicket defeat against in the second ODI of the ongoing three-match series. The visitors experimented with their line-up and as a result, skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were benched. Team India, which was led by Hardik Pandya in the game, got bundled out for 181 and the hosts then chased down the target in just 36.4 overs. The team management has been facing severe criticism as the three-match series is now levelled at 1-1. However, India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja backed the team's decision and stated that it was done to check new combinations, ahead of the Asia Cup and World Cup.

No Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma Again For India In Must-Win Contest vs West Indies. Stand-in Captain Hardik Pandya Says This

India chose to go without Virat Kohli and regular skipper Rohit Sharma yet again in the must-win third ODI against West Indies in Trinidad on Tuesday. The duo had been rested for the second ODI against West Indies which India lost as the hosts levelled the three-match series 1-1. At the toss, Hardik Pandya came, which made it apparent that Rohit Sharma was not in the XI. When he was asked about whether Kohli was playing or not, Pandya gave this answer: "Two changes for us. Ruturaj comes in place of Umran and Unadkat comes in place of Axar. Going to the decider the boys are pumped up and looking forward to the game. Looks good (the surface), I don't think much will change, batting first gives a good opportunity for us to set a good total."

India's Predicted XI vs West Indies, 3rd ODI: Will Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli Be Back For Series Finale?

After facing a shocking a six-wicket defeat in the second ODI, India will be taking on West Indies in the third and final match of the series on Tuesday. India will be hoping the experiment of trying out Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav in the middle-order works when they take on the West Indies in the ODI series decider in Tarouba. India, who have not lost an ODI series to West Indies since 2006, face a rare series defeat after their move to rest skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli backfired in the second game in Barbados.

"Didn't Lose Because We Tried Different Combinations": Ravindra Jadeja Fires Back At Critics

Ahead of the third ODI match and series decider against West Indies, Indian spinner Ravindra Jadeja said that this is the only series where the Indian team can do experiments before the Asia Cup and World Cup. After WI clinched the second one-day game by 6 wickets to level the series to 1-1, India will play the final match of the three-match series at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba on Tuesday.

"Relaxing For Purpose Of Relaxing": Experts Slam Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli's 2nd ODI Absence

Only two months to go before the ODI World Cup 2023 begins but the Indian team management is making changes in the team that have left the fans and experts baffling. The absence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from the second ODI team against West Indies was a big head-scratcher. Many former Indian cricketers found little logic in the management's decision, saying the duo has played little cricket, courtesy of their absence from India's T20I squad. Hence, the decision to leave them out of the playing XI for the second ODI is perplexing.

Watch: Rested Virat Kohli Turns 'Water Boy' For Team India vs West Indies. Internet In Awe

The Indian playing XI for the second ODI against West Indies in Barbados on Saturday had a different look as regular captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were not part of it. Hardik Pandya stood in for Rohit, the skipper. "Few questions need to be answered for us, so Virat and Rohit are resting. They can be fresh for the third ODI. The way we bowled was impressive. The way we caught was great, it changed the momentum. I think when you get someone out for 115, it's a good effort from the bowlers. Our catching was impressive, but we can improve in certain areas. Instead of losing five wickets, we could have lost only two wickets and finished the last game. Sanju Samson and Axar Patel come in for Rohit and Virat," stand-in captain Hardik Pandya said at the toss.