Why Virat Kohli is not playing Asia Cup 2023 match against Bangladesh?

India are all set to take on Bangladesh in the final Asia Cup Super Four stage clash at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo on September 15. Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bowl first.

Rohit and Rahul Dravid decided to rest a few key players to provide a chance for other players in the bench to thrive. Suryakumar Yadav replaced Virat Kohli at No. 3, and the switch most likely resulted from taking into account the workload management.

“We are gonna field first. It is something we haven't done in the tournament, we haven't done it under lights so it gives us an opportunity to bat under lights. The wicket honestly has got everything for everyone. Pacers who bend their back in the daytime have also got movement and there have been assistance for the spinners. Got to be brave and play your natural game. We got to give game time to some other guys who haven't played. We have made five changes, Tilak makes his debut. Shami and Prasidh also come in. Suryakumar also gets a game,” Rohit said at the toss.

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India have made four more changes with Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, and Jasprit Bumrah being rested. Tilak Varma, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur, and Prasidh Krishna came into the team., with Tilak playing his first ODI after being picked for India's Asia Cup squad despite never having played the format.

Bangladesh, who are already out of contention, also made five changes in their starting lineup. While Tanzid Hasan, Anamul Haque, Mahedi Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, and the debutant Tanzim Hasan Sakib were called in, Mohammad Naim, Mushfiqur Rahim, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam and Hasan Mahmud were kept out.

India XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul (wk), Tilak Varma, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Prasidh Krishna.

Bangladesh XI: Litton Das (wk), Tanzid Hasan, Anamul Haque, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mustafizur Rahman.