Indian head coach, Rahul Dravid has returned to his hometown Bengaluru after ill health and will not be with the team for the third and final ODI against Sri Lanka at the Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, January 15. RevSportz, Dravid suffered a health issue during the second ODI between the neighboring countries.
The Indian veteran, however, stayed with the national team on Friday morning before flying back to his hometown. Dravid is understood to have felt uneasy in the team hotel and took medicines after his blood pressure shot up. Incidentally, the Indian legend recently celebrated his 50th birthday with the Indian players in Kolkata on Tuesday, January 11, ahead of the second ODI.
Read also: Garuda Aerospace will launch a drone and name it after MS Dhoni
The situation has put India’s head coach’s availability for the third ODI in grave jeopardy. Notably, the India and Sri Lanka players as well as the support staff did not have much recovery time as they had played the first game a day earlier.
🚨Rahul Dravid is not going to Thiruvananthapuram with Team India for the third ODI. He is leaving for Bengaluru tomorrow morning due to health reasons and is expected to join the team later before the third ODI on January 15.
The team is traveling tomorrow.#indvsl pic.twitter.com/gsnAczbcCF
— RevSportz (@RevSportz) January 12, 2023
Meanwhile, Team India took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the ODI series as they came on top by four wickets in the second game at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Premier India batsman KL Rahul, who had been struggling for form, made a strong statement in the contest with an unbeaten 64 to take the hosts across the finish line in the 44th over.
Read also: R Sridhar recalls when MS Dhoni hinted about his retirement
However, left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who was adjudged player of the match for his match-winning three-wicket haul in the previous game, will once again be hoping the visitors don’t get a clue. Kuldeep came in place of Yuzvendra Chahal, who was ruled out with a right shoulder injury.
At the same time, it also has to be seen whether Chahal will be fit to make it to the XI in the third game. India and Sri Lanka will now be hoping to complete the formalities by playing some scintillating cricket in this game. While the hosts would be keen to register a clean sweep, the Lankans would be keen to salvage glory in the dead rubber.
