Resting from the final Super 4s match against Bangladesh, Virat Kohli took on the refreshing role of serving drinks to his teammates in Colombo today.
During the Asia Cup 2023’s final Super Fours clash against Bangladesh on September 15, former Indian captain Virat Kohli found himself on the sidelines, as one of the five players given a rest by the team management. But here’s the kicker – Kohli, donning the 12th man gear, didn’t just chill on the sidelines; he became the official drinks guy for his team at the R Premadasa Stadium.
This delightful sight unfolded right after Shardul Thakur snagged his first wicket by sending Tanzid Hasan packing in just the fourth over of the game. India had won the toss and chose to field. And there was Kohli, sporting cool shades, sprinting onto the field with hydration in hand.
This wasn’t the first instance of Kohli’s waterboy duties, as he has previously donned this unconventional role to support his team when he wasn’t part of the playing XI, showing that his commitment to the squad goes beyond the boundaries.
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
With their place in the Asia Cup 2023 final secure, India opted to field a fresh lineup for the inconsequential clash against Bangladesh. Having already thrashed Pakistan by a whopping 228 runs and clinched a 41-run victory against Sri Lanka in their initial Super 4s encounters, this match against Bangladesh held no real stakes.
Key players like Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, and Mohammed Siraj were rested to preserve their energy. The 20-year-old Tilak Varma marked his ODI debut under captain Rohit Sharma’s guidance. Suryakumar Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Shami, and Shardul Thakur also seized their opportunities in the starting XI at Colombo’s RPS.
In preparation for the upcoming 3-match ODI series against Australia and the imminent ODI World Cup commencing on October 5, India aims to provide valuable playing opportunities to their bench strength.
Last Updated on September 15, 2023
Senior Sports Copywriter
