Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant have left the Kolkata bio-bubble and have been given a 10-day break by the BCCI, which means they will miss the Sri Lanka T20s.
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Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant played a brilliant part in India’s tense win against the West Indies in Kolkata. Kohli hit fifty off 41 balls to give India a good platform. Rishabh Pant blasted 52 off 28 balls and shared a partnership of 76 off 35 balls with Venkatesh Iyer who hit 33 off 18 balls. India ended on 186/5. Nicholas Pooran and Rovman Powell both hit aggressive fifties to keep West Indies in the hunt. Powell hit two sixes in the final over bowled by Harshal Patel. But India held their nerve as they won by eight runs.
With India taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, the BCCI has decided to give some key players rest. According to a report in PTI, the BCCI has given some players rest. Rishabh Pant and Virat Kohli are the first two players to leave the bio-bubble environment. The BCCI has given a 10-day rest to both Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant. This means that both players will not be available for the Sri Lanka T20I series.
Speaking to PTI, a senior BCCI official said, “Yes, Kohli has left home on Saturday morning as India has already won the series. As it has been decided by BCCI, it will be a policy to give all the regular all-format players periodic breaks from the bubble to ensure that their workload management and mental health is taken care of.”
With West Indies going for the onslaught in the final overs, Bhuvneshwar Kumar was tasked with bowling the 19th over. In a splendid display, Bhuvneshwar conceded just four runs and took the wicket of Nicholas Pooran for 62. That over changed the entire complexion of the match as India held on for a narrow win.
Read – Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell heroics in vain as West Indies lose to India
Bhuvneshwar Kumar ended with figures of 4-0-29-1 and he credited his ability to confidently nail the yorkers. “I was just believing in myself. Rohit told me that if I can give just 9-10 runs it will be difficult for them. So, I just backed myself with the yorkers. There was a bit of dew, but I still backed myself and it came out well. He (Powell) was hitting it pretty hard, probably 200kmph (chuckles). It’s always tough to bowl yorkers with the dew. When we bowled the slower balls, it wasn’t gripping. I changed my plan not to bowl slower balls, so it totally depends on the wicket. These guys are powerful,” Bhuvneshwar said.
Rohit Sharma also praised Bhuvneshwar but stated that Virat Kohli played an important inning. “Under pressure, we executed all our plans. It was very critical given the point of time. Experience plays a part. He (Bhuvi) was hitting those yorkers and that odd bouncer. We believe in his talent. It was very important innings from Virat. The way he started off, took the pressure off me as well. We didn’t start well in the first two overs, then he came in and started playing those shots which were very pleasing to the eye. Great finish from Pant and Iyer as well,” Rohit said.
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