Virat Kohli Set to Return for 2nd ODI Against England, Confirms Shubman Gill
Virat Kohli Set to Return for 2nd ODI Against England
Virat Kohli, India’s star batter, will return for the second ODI against England. The match is on February 9 at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. Kohli missed the first game because of swelling in his right knee. However, recent reports say he has recovered and is ready to play.
A Times of India (TOI) report states that Kohli was rested just before the first ODI. This decision followed some swelling that appeared after practice. “His right knee was fine during practice, but once we got back to the hotel, it swelled up,” a source was quoted as saying.
“It doesn’t seem that bad though. He will play the Cuttack ODI in all likelihood,” the source added.
Shubman Gill Confirms Kohli’s Comeback
Shubman Gill, who played at No. 3 in Kohli’s absence, confirmed that fans have nothing to worry about.
“There’s nothing to worry. He will definitely be fit for the next game,” Gill stated.
Gill stepped up in the first ODI, scoring an impressive 87 off 96 balls, anchoring India’s chase. However, with Kohli returning, the batting lineup is likely to be reshuffled.
Shreyas Iyer to Miss Out?
With Kohli back, Shreyas Iyer’s place could be in jeopardy, despite his quickfire 59 off 36 balls in Nagpur. Iyer said he played only because Kohli was absent. This makes Iyer the most likely player to sit out the second ODI. However, no official confirmation has been made yet.
India’s Dominant Win in 1st ODI
India won the first ODI by four wickets. They chased down 249 runs with 68 balls left. England began well with 75 runs without losing a wicket. However, Harshit Rana took 3 wickets for 53 runs, while Ravindra Jadeja took 3 for just 26. Their efforts helped India limit England to 248 runs.
India faced early challenges in their chase. However, a strong 94-run partnership between Gill and Iyer turned the game around. Then, Axar Patel contributed a vital 52 runs, leading the team to victory. Hardik Pandya and Jadeja sealed the win, giving India a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Kohli is back, and India aims to finish the series in Cuttack. They want to keep their momentum strong for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
