IND vs SL: Wasim Jaffer Doesn’t Want Many Changes in Playing XI for India in the 3rd ODI
IND vs SL: Former India player Wasim Jaffer has urged Team India’s management not to make any changes to their playing XI for the final ODI against Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram despite having won the series already. With the ODI World Cup taking place later this year, it’s important for the team to stick to a winning combination and work on them as well.
However, India beat Sri Lanka by four wickets in the second ODI at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Thursday, January 12 and took a 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Bowling first, India bowled out the Lankans for 215 in 39.4 overs. KL Rahul’s unbeaten 64 then helped India reach the target in 43.3 overs. And the third ODI to be played in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, January 15, will be a dead rubber now as the veteran doesn’t want India to change their winning combination. While speaking on ESPNcricinfo, he said:
“Looking at the World Cup, I wouldn’t like to make any changes, unless there is an injury or a niggle. But just because you have won the series and it’s a third game, I wouldn’t want to make any changes. You want to keep playing with that same combination because India doesn’t play more than 18-20 ODIs before the World Cup. I would stay away, even though you have got Washington Sundar, Ishan Kishan, and Arshdeep Singh. Those are the guys who can come in, but I wouldn’t make any changes for the sake of it.”
Team India made headlines with their performance
However, Team India were forced to make one change for the second ODI as left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav came in for the injured Yuzvendra Chahal. While talking about who he would pick between the two if Chahal is fit for the third ODI, Jaffer backed Kuldeep. However, he was the Player of the Match in the Kolkata ODI for his figures of 3/51.
He said: “I would pick Kuldeep Yadav over Yuzvendra Chahal any day. I would still keep Kuldeep Yadav.”
In the post-match presentation, Team India captain Rohit Sharma was also asked if the Indian team were thinking of making any changes for the final ODI. To which he replied that they haven’t decided yet. Rohit shared:
“We haven’t thought about it yet, once we get there we’ll have a look at the pitch and have a look at some of our guys. There are 3 ODIs coming up against New Zealand as well, so we need to keep the guys fresh. We’ve got a long season now and we need to keep everything in mind. If needed, we’ll make some changes.”
However, after the Sri Lanka series, Team India will take on New Zealand in three ODIs and three T20Is from January 18 to February 1 as well.
