India vs. West Indies: Rohit Sharma relinquishes first place while Ruturaj Ishan assists Kishan at the top in 3rd T20I

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In a nice touch, captain Rohit Sharma gave up his opening spot to place two youngsters in Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan at the top of the batting order in India’s 3rd T20I against the West Indies at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. After losing the throw, Rohit confirmed that Ishan and Ruturaj and not him would open batting for India in the series finals on Sunday.

India made up to 4 changes to their playing XI at Dead Rubber after sealing an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the 3-match T20I series. While Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant were unavailable after the bio-bubble break, India rested senior bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yuzvendra Chahal. Ruturaj, Shreyas Iyer, Shardul Thakur and debutant Avesh Khan were inducted into the XI.

India vs West Indies, 3rd T20I Live Updates

Ruturaj and Ishan came out to open the batting after the West Indies won the toss and opted to perform in Kolkata. However, the Chennai Super Kings opener folded for 4 after playing an uncharacteristic knock. He folded while attempting to knock Jason Holder over the line as early as the 3rd over of the game.

Incidentally, Rohit Sharma didn’t come out to bat at number 3 and the skipper sent Shreyas Iyer, who got his first game of the series, to the deciding spot where Virat Kohli played in the first 2 T20Is.

The last time Rohit played anywhere below number 3 in T20I cricket was in June 2018 when he entered Dublin against number 4 Ireland.

GAVASKAR PRAISES ROHIT’S HANDLING

“It’s a better move because we all know what Rohit Sharma can do. Now it’s about seeing what Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad can do because they’re newbies. I think it’s an opportunity for them to get more overs,” Gavaskar said while praising the change from team management.

In particular, Rohit had said that India will do everything it can to give young players opportunities and security ahead of the T20 World Cup later this year.

“Not necessarily experimenting because all these guys are very young, haven’t played much cricket to keep experimenting with them. We need to give them reassurance that it’s game time, once we have that we can try it. By then we need to fill in these gaps. Whatever it takes, we’ll do it,” he had said ahead of the T20I series.

Rohit had also backed Ishan Kishan, who struggled in the first two T20Is. Rather than drop the Mumbai Indians star, the skipper seems to have backed the opener up front and given him the position he has done well in in the past.

Ishan looked flustered in the first two T20Is, hitting a 42-ball 35 in the opening game of the series and a 10-ball 2 in the 2nd T20I.

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