‘Do you think he will voluntarily rest?’ – Ian Bishop’s prompt response to Simon Doull’s cheeky ‘Drop Virat’ idea ahead of India’s clash against Netherlands
India will play their final group-stage game against the Netherlands tomorrow at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. India has won all their eight games so far and is a strong favorite to not only end the group stage undefeated but also win the World Cup on home soil.
India’s dominance in the ongoing World Cup has been nothing short of spectacular. They have not just defeated their opponents; they have dismantled them with clinical precision. The few instances where they were challenged, such as against New Zealand and England, they responded with remarkable tenacity and emerged victorious, sending a clear message to their competitors. India’s commanding performance throughout the World Cup has earned them the unanimous title of “hot favorites” among fans and pundits alike. The team’s unwavering dominance has fueled widespread anticipation of a World Cup victory, breaking the decade-long trophy drought that has hung heavy over the nation.
In the lead-up to the match against the Netherlands, some suggestions have emerged that India should rest key players like Jasprit Bumrah and Virat Kohli. However, head coach Rahul Dravid has firmly rejected such proposals, asserting that the players have had ample rest since their last match a week ago. Dravid emphasized that maintaining consistency and momentum is crucial at this stage of the tournament, and resting key players could disrupt the team’s rhythm.
Simon Doull’s desperation for Kohli to be rested
During a pre-match discussion on Star Sports ahead of the Australia-Bangladesh encounter in Pune, former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull was asked whether he anticipates India altering their winning lineup for the upcoming match against the Netherlands. With a lighthearted chuckle, Doull expressed his personal desire for Virat Kohli to be rested, jokingly remarking that it would open up an opportunity for his pre-tournament prediction of Quinton de Kock emerging as the leading run-scorer to materialize.
While Doull acknowledged that India is unlikely to make any changes to their lineup unless there are any injury concerns, he was promptly interrupted by fellow pundit Ian Bishop. Bishop wittily pointed out the slim likelihood of Virat Kohli voluntarily opting for a rest when he is just a century away from surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s legendary record of most ODI centuries.
“Wait. Do you think Kohli will voluntarily rest when he is one century short of the record?”, Bishop asked. Doull readily conceded that his suggestion was merely a playful wish and that there is no chance of Kohli being rested.
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