During the 2023 World Cup match against Bangladesh at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, a significant and unusual moment unfolded. India’s versatile all-rounder, Hardik Pandya, encountered an unfortunate injury, resulting in him limping off the field.
This incident occurred during the 9th over of the game, with Bangladesh opting to bat first. The injury came as Hardik Pandya valiantly attempted to stop a powerful shot from Bangladesh’s Litton Das with his right leg.
Regrettably, his effort led to an unintended slip, and he landed awkwardly on his left leg, visibly in pain. In response to this predicament, India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, took the prudent decision to remove Hardik from the bowling attack to prevent exacerbating the injury.
What followed was a rare sight on the cricket field. Rohit Sharma called upon none other than Virat Kohli to complete the over that Hardik Pandya had started. Kohli, a former captain of the Indian cricket team, had not bowled in a One-Day International for a remarkable six years.
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Virat Kohli bowling!!!!
— cskArmy_7 (@cskarmy_7) October 19, 2023
Right Arm Quick Bowler in Action 😂🔥#ViratKohli | #WorldCup2023 |#INDvsBAN |#CricketWorldCup2023 | #CricketWorldCup pic.twitter.com/mcQBxHQ3s7
This surprising twist saw Kohli delivering three deliveries, during which he conceded two runs. Adding to the intrigue of the match, Bangladesh faced their own setback as their all-rounder and captain, Shakib Al Hasan, had to sit out due to a quad injury.
Shakib’s absence led to Mahmudullah taking over the captaincy for the team.
In terms of team compositions, India decided to field an unchanged lineup, keeping their core players intact for this crucial clash. On the other hand, Bangladesh made a change by including Hasan Mahmud in the side, replacing Taskin Ahmed.
The teams for this match were as follows:
India:
Rohit Sharma (c)
Shubman Gill
Virat Kohli
Shreyas Iyer
KL Rahul (w)
Hardik Pandya
Ravindra Jadeja
Shardul Thakur
Kuldeep Yadav
Jasprit Bumrah
Mohammed Siraj
Bangladesh:
Litton Das
Tanzid Hasan
Najmul Hossain Shanto (c)
Mehidy Hasan Miraz
Towhid Hridoy
Mushfiqur Rahim (w)
Mahmudullah
Nasum Ahmed
Hasan Mahmud
Mustafizur Rahman
Shoriful Islam
In summary, the 2023 World Cup match between India and Bangladesh witnessed a captivating moment as Virat Kohli, primarily known for his batting prowess, took to the bowling crease for the first time in years to assist his team when Hardik Pandya suffered an injury. The game was poised on a knife’s edge, promising an enthralling competition between these two cricketing giants.
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