India faces South Africa today at Indore's Holkar Stadium for the final T20I of the series. With a 2-0 lead already established, India has opted to rest Virat Kohli. This move comes after the former captain regained his top form leading up to the T20 World Cup, with the team prioritizing his recovery and overall workload management.
India will take on South Africa in the final T20I which will be played today at Holkar Stadium in Indore. After regaining top form in the build-up to the ICC T20 World Cup, former captain Virat Kohli has been rested for the third T20I as India has an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. The decision has been taken considering Kohli’s workload management in mind.
The management believes it's crucial for Kohli to be at his absolute best for the World Cup opener against Pakistan on October 23 at the MCG. Given that he hasn't missed a single match since the 2022 Asia Cup, the team decided he needed a breather. Consequently, Shreyas Iyer is the likely candidate to take over the number three spot in today's lineup.
According to a senior BCCI source, Kohli's recent schedule of back-to-back games has been demanding. With the T20 World Cup just around the corner, the goal is to ensure he is physically and mentally fresh. The official added that because the series against South Africa is already won, it's the ideal time to rotate the squad and give other players a chance to compete.
KL Rahul is also anticipated to be rested. Since returning from injury in August, Rahul had a slow start but has recently regained his momentum, posting four half-centuries in six outings, including consecutive fifties in the first two T20Is against South Africa.