The final game of the Super 4 stage at the Asia Cup 2023 is underway at R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo between India and Bangladesh. Having already qualified for the tournament’s final, the Men in Blue came up with few changes to their playing XI, giving rest to some senior players.
Former India captain Virat Kohli was also rested for dead rubber but he still entertained fans with his presence on the field. Kohli, being the 12th man, showcased his lighter side by running onto the field in a comically amusing manner while carrying drinks for his teammates.
This unexpected spectacle unfolded after Shardul Thakur secured a crucial wicket, dismissing Tanzid Hasan in the 4th over of the match. Kohli, sporting shades, left the audience in splits with his hilarious dash.
Here is the video:
On the field or off the field, can't get our eyes off this guy 👀#INDvBAN live now only on #DisneyPlusHotstar, free on the mobile app.#FreeMeinDekhteJaao #AsiaCup2023 #AsiaCupOnHotstar #Cricket pic.twitter.com/emqbnrl6Vp
— Disney+ Hotstar (@DisneyPlusHS) September 15, 2023
India test bench strength ahead of the final
India’s decision to rest several key players, including Kohli, stemmed from their qualification for the tournament’s final, allowing them to experiment and assess their bench strength. India will face Sri Lanka in the summit clash, who secured a spot in the final by defeating Pakistan in a virtual semi-final match held in Colombo on Thursday.
Apart from Kohli, India also opted to rest Mohammed Siraj, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah for the inconsequential match against Bangladesh. This move provided opportunities for emerging talents to shine on the international stage.
Also READ: Netizens react as Tilak Varma receives his ODI debut cap; India makes 5 changes for Bangladesh clash – Asia Cup 2023
Young prodigy Tilak Varma marked his ODI debut, receiving his maiden cap from captain Rohit Sharma. Additionally, India fielded Suryakumar Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, and Mohammed Shami in this fixture. Notably, Thakur returned to the XI, partnering with Axar Patel.
Speaking about the team’s changes, Rohit, during the toss, stated, “We got to give game time to some other guys who haven’t played. We have made five changes. Virat, Hardik, Siraj, Bumrah, and Kuldeep are out. Tilak makes his debut. Shami and Prasidh also come in. Suryakumar also gets a game.”
