Indian team skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and vice-captain Virat Kohli have not travelled with the team here for the two-day game against New Zealand XI.
Instead, the two have stayed back in Auckland. When asked the reason for the two not showing up in Whangarei, Indian team media manager Dr. Baba said “After the one-day series, both Dhoni and Kohli are taking rest in Auckland.”
The decision of the captain and his deputy to remain in Auckland, the venue for the first Test, is sure to raise eyebrows.
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It can be argued that if Dhoni and Kohli were tired and needed a break so did the others who played in the gruelling ODI series. The captain and the vice-captain are part of the team management as well, along with the coach; it is the trio that picks the XI on tours.
By missing the action here — the contest is not televised either — Dhoni and Kohli would not be in a position to assess performances in the only tour game of the campaign.
In the absence of the duo, Rohit Sharma is leading the team here.
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