/sky247-english/media/agency_attachments/u8Dd4hyaH0mQGXmyg0Eo.png)
/sky247-english/media/media_files/oXHoxgPA7CrylmMTcwp1.jpg)
Follow Us/sky247-english/media/post_banners/PFkwZiYK94cQSNtiSSuc.png)
Virat Kohli (Source: Twitter)
India lost a thriller in Asia Cup 2023 against Bangladesh by 6 runs on Friday. Virat Kohli was rested for the encounter, The India lower-order could not step up when needed and this meant the Men in Blue suffered their first loss in Asia Cup 2023. It was wholesale changes from an Indian point of view as Suryakumar Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Tilak Varma, Shardul Thakur and Prasidh Krishna came in.
/sky247-english/media/media_files/L36rCpmHRJkAgRgNCcLd.jpg)
Though Kohli was not a part of the playing XI, he turned water-boy during the drinks break and even then he could be let away without having a piece of the action. In a video that has created a storm on social media, Kohli had an interesting encounter with a super sopper operator before the start of the match. The groundsman scared him by blowing the horn of the super sopper. To which Kohli got scared and had a very interesting reaction to it.
Here is the video:
Virat 😂😂 #AsiaCup2023 pic.twitter.com/FymHzYrZ3E
— Nibraz Ramzan (@nibraz88cricket) September 15, 2023
Virat Kohli was rested for the Asia Cup fixture against Bangladesh
The Men in Blue had the Bangla Tigers on the ropes at 193-7 but the bowlers could not dismiss the Bangladesh tail which meant that they ended up with 265-8. Nasum Ahmed cracked a valuable 44 off 45 balls with six fours and one six. Mahedi Hasan hit an unbeaten 29 off 23 balls with three fours, Tanzim Hasan Sakib chipped in with an unbeaten 14 off 8 balls which had one four and one six.
For India, the only bright spots were Shubman Gill who smashed 121 off 133 balls with eight fours and five sixes. Axar Patel made 42 off 34 balls with three fours and two sixes and tried to win the game for India but it was in vain. The Men in Blue have had problems is dismissing the tail in ODIs over the years.
When it comes to Indian batting, they have a fragile lower order which means India do not have enough batting depth to win them close games in ODIs. The Indian middle order needs to come good in the ODI World Cup. They also have to find some part time bowling options on a short term basis to given their bowling more cover in ODIs.