The One Day International (ODI) series for the Indian cricket team starts today, on the 18th of August, against the Zimbabwe in what promises to be a great series and great opportunity for few players to prove their worth and look to seal a place in the Indian team for the future.
With the Asia Cup 2022 starting just a couple of days after the end of the Zimbabwe series, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the selectors have opted a number of players out of this series and has given opportunity to the backup players to prove their worth.
Among those players, this is a great opportunity to prove themselves for the youngsters especially. More so for the debutant Rahul Tripathi and backup opener Ishan Kishan.
While Ishan Kishan was a starter for India in the T20Is in absence of KL Rahul, but with the former back leading the team, and loads of opening options, Ishan Kishan might not even find a place in the Playing XI. And for Rahul Tripathi, he’s gonna have to compete with the likes of Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Sanju Samson for the middle-order position.
Meanwhile, former Indian cricketer Paul Valthaty has feels that Rahul Tripathi has been in sideline for the last couple of series and wants Tripathi to make his debut in this series. He also talked about their batting and believes that Ishan Kishan won’t get to open the inning and both will have to settle for position 4,5 or 6.
“Rahul Tripathi had been on sidelines for the previous series. I personally want him to make his debut. If Ishan Kishan and Rahul Tripathi get a chance, they would probably be batting at 4, 5 or 6,” said the former Kings XI Punjab man.
Talking about the series, while initially Shikhar Dhawan was named captain due to question mark on the fitness of KL Rahul, he was later instated as captain after the medics cleared him for the series.
The first match of the series will be played today, on the 18th of August at the Harare Sports Club ground in Harare. The following two then will be played on the 20th and 22nd of August at the very same venue.
