Virat Kohli, KL Rahul rested for the third 20-20 match against South Africa, did not travel with the team to Indore

India has clinched the ongoing 20-20 series against South Africa with back-to-back wins in two first matches. With the third game now rendered just a formality, the Indian team management is looking to rest some senior players.

As per a recent report, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul have been rested for the third 20-20 match against South Africa scheduled for 4th October in Indore. An Indian Cricket Board official has said, “He [Kohli] has played back-to-back matches. Will have to be careful about his workload. With the T20 World Cup starting later this month, we want Virat to be fresh mentally and physically. He has featured regularly for India in T20I matches since the Asia Cup and with the series already won, it’s better to give him a breather and someone else can be handed a game ahead of him.”

Virat Kohli and KL Rahul are back in form

Virat Kohli after struggling with form seems to have regained his lost touch with his 71st century at the Asia Cup 2022. Since then the right-hand batter has clinched a couple of half centuries and also played a match-winning knock against South Africa in the second 20-20 match. In the last match, he made a quickfire 49 off of 28 deliveries to help India achieve a massive total of 237 in the first innings. India on the back of a humongous score, won the match by 16 runs despite Devid Miller and Quinton de Kock’s 174 runs heroics.

KL Rahul after a lackluster return seems to have finally come into the groove. The right-hand batter made an industrious 51 off 56 on a difficult track in the first T20I, something that also attracted a fair bit of criticism. He howevr silenced all with 57 off 28 in the second marking an end to slow innings.

Shreyas Iyer who was drafted into the squad following Deepak Hooda’s injury is most likely to take Kohli’s spot as the number one batter in the team. Mohammad Siraj is the other player who will join the squad. The Men in Blue will then play a three-match ODI series with South Africa with the second string team as the 20-20 side would be rested ahead of the World Cup in Australia this month.

Shikhar Dhawan has been tasked with leading the ODI team against South Africa, which starts on 6th October. India meanwhile will play its first World Cup match on 23 October against Pakistan at Melbourne Cricket Ground.