IND vs SA: Virat Kohli Is Disconnected From The Team, Opines Danish Kaneria

Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria is of the opinion that the Indian team is divided into two sections.

After a thumping win by 31 runs in the first ODI, South Africa defeated India by seven wickets in the second match to seal the three-match ODI series with an unassailable lead of 2-0.

South Africa won the ODI series with a 2-0 lead against India

Rishabh Pant’s 85 from 71 balls and an unbeaten 48-run stand between Shardul Thakur (40*) and Ravichandran Ashwin (25*) helped India post a monumental score of 287/6 in the first innings.

But the Indian bowlers failed to hold the opponents batters as Proteas openers Quinton de Kock (78) and Janneman Malan (91) put up a dignified partnership of 132 runs.

After the openers were sent back to the dugout, South Africa’s middle-order comprised of skipper Temba Bavuma (35), Aiden Markram (37) and Rassie van der Dussen (37) ensured the hosts romped home with a seven-wicket win in 48.1 overs.

Virat Kohli isn’t giving a lot of input to the captain: Danish Kaneria

Kaneria is of the opinion that Kohli isn’t guiding KL Rahul during DRS calls as he was removed from ODI captaincy by the BCCI and selectors. Kaneria also feels that KL Rahul isn’t prepared for captaincy and hopes for Rohit Sharma to come back to the team and take over the charge.

“There’s no intensity in KL Rahul’s captaincy. Virat looks distant, disconnected from the team. When a review is being taken, he doesn’t close in as much and he isn’t giving a lot of input to the captain. You get to know what’s going inside a cricketer’s heart by judging their body language,” Kaneria said on his YouTube channel.

“There seems to be a division within the team. Team India isn’t showing the intensity and the approach that Virat used to bring to the team (when he was captain). Going by KL Rahul’s captaincy, Rohit Sharma should come back as captain. KL Rahul is not ready to lead the team,” he added.

South Africa and India will move from Paarl to Cape Town to play the final ODI match of the series at the Newlands on Sunday (January 23). India will hope to avoid the white-wash by ending their tour with a victory.

Also Read: IND vs SA: As A Batter, Virat Kohli Will Have A Different Pressure Upon Him – Harbhajan Singh