After a triumphant performance in the Asia Cup 2023, where Team India clinched the title in a thrilling fina?l against Sri Lanka, the Board of Con??trol for Cricket in India (BCCI) unveiled the Indian squad for the upcoming home series against Australia. The squad included several changes to the ODI?? lineup, with some key players given a rest for the first two matches.

Rest for key players

India decided to rest captain Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli for the initial two ODIs, making way for new faces in the lineup. While seasoned off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin made his return to the ODI squad, another notable absentee was ace spinner Kuldeep Yadav.

Kuldeep’s outstanding Asia Cup performance

Kuldeep had been a standout performer in the Asia Cup 2023, where he consistently delivered stellar performances with the ball. Throughout the tournament, he secured nine wickets in five games, boasting an impressive average of 11.44 an??d an economy rate of 3.61. His outstanding contributions earned him the prestigious Player of the Series award as India dominated the summit clash.

Rohit Sharma’s explanation

Team India skipper Rohit has now shed light on the decision to rest Kuldeep for the first two ODIs against Australia. The Mumbaikar cited India’s strategy of keeping their cards close to their chest, emphasizing the importance of not allowing Australia to become too familiar with Kuldeep’s bowling right before the ODI World Cup 2023.

Also READ: Ravichandran Ashwin returns as BCCI announces In?dia squad for Australia ODIs

“Kuldeep is a rhythm bowler, we all know that. But we thought of a lot of things and took this call. His bowling is going well… we had to give players a chance, especially those who played just one game at the Asia Cup and are in the World Cup squad,” explained Rohit as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Rohit further elaborated on their rationale, saying the management has been closely monitoring Kuldeep’s performance and development over the past year and a half, recognizing his importance. To preserve his effectiveness and maintain an element of surprise, they’ve opted to keep him out of the first two ODIs.

“We have been looking at Kuldeep for the last one, one and a half years, this is why we don’t want to expose him a lot. He is coming back for the last match. There are a lot of reasons. This is the best decision for us, to have him sit out for two games and play the third. We also have two practice matches [before the World Cup opener], so for the bowling rhythm, he will be back in it,” added Rohit.

Also READ: India vs Australia 2023, ODI series – Date, Match Time, Venues, Squads, Broadcast & Live Streaming details

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During Australia’s 2013 tour of India, all-rounder James Faulkner achieved a heroic feat of scoring of 29-ball 64* in the Mohali ODI.

The match is remembered for fast bowler Ishant Sharma‘s forgetful 48th over, where the visitors needed 44 runs off just 18 deliveries.

Faulkner smashed 30 runs in the over, wh?ich included four sixes, to take the momentum in favour of the Aussies. Australia went on to take 2-1 lead in the 7-match ODI series.

Now, looking back at the episode, Ishant has revealed about feeling like betraying his country, tagging it as a ‘turning point’ in his life.

“The turning point of my life came in 2013. Faulkner hit me for 30 runs in one over in an ODI in Mohali that Australia went on to win,” Ishant told Deep Dasgupta on Espncricinfo show, ‘Cricket Baazi’.

The lanky seamer from Delhi went on to ??add about him weeping for? three weeks straight, over the phone in front of his girlfriend.

“At that time I felt I had betrayed myself and my country,” said Ishant, going on to reveal that he cried for two weeks after that Mohali ODI.

“For two-three weeks, I didn’t speak to anyone. I cried a lot. I am a very tough guy. My mother says she hasn’t seen a tougher person than me. [But] I called my girlfriend and cried on the phone like a child. Those three weeks were like a nightmare. I stopped eating. I couldn’t sleep or do anything else. You switch on the television and people are criticising you, which messes you up even more,” the Test specialist said.

“I laugh about it now and I consider it a blessing in disguise. Sometimes you need a jolt to understand your passion. After the Faulkner incident, I went through major changes in my life. After 2013, I started taking things seriously. Before that, if I had a bad performance, people would come and tell me ‘It’s okay, it happens.’ But after 2013, if someone came to me and said that, I wouldn’t listen. If I have made a mistake, I have made a mistake. I started taking responsibility for my actions. When you do that, you play every match to win it for the team,” Ishant concluded.

From there on, Ishant went on to become one of the most successful fast bowlers in Test cricket. Also, he has translated his rich form in white-ball cricket, representing the Delhi Capitals (DC) in ?the IPL.

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