IND vs ENG: Virat Kohli misses first ODI in Nagpur! But why? Rohit Sharma reveals
Xtra Time Web Desk: Star batter Virat Kohli was ruled out of the first ODI against Nagpur due to a sore right knee, skipper Rohit Sharma confirmed at the toss on Thursday, February 6. The issue was diagnosed on the eve of the series opener, forcing India to make last-minute changes to their playing XI.
India handed debuts to opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and fast bowler Harshit Rana, with Jaiswal replacing Kohli in the lineup. Shreyas Iyer slotted in at No. 3, while vice-captain Shubman Gill moved to No. 4. In a notable selection call, India opted for KL Rahul as the first-choice wicketkeeper, leaving out Rishabh Pant.
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— BCCI (@BCCI) February 6, 2025
Virat Kohli was unavailable for selection for the 1st ODI due to a sore right knee.
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Kohli, who is nearing the 14,000-run milestone in ODIs, was seen warming up before the match but appeared cautious, sporting a strap on his left knee. Despite his injury, he was present in the team huddle as Jaiswal and Harshit received their maiden ODI caps. This is the first time since July 2022 that Kohli has missed an ODI due to injury, having previously sat out a match at The Oval due to a groin strain.
India fielded a spin-heavy attack with Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav complementing the pace duo of Mohammed Shami and debutant Harshit Rana. Hardik Pandya provided an additional seam-bowling option. Contrary to expectations, mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy did not feature in the XI.
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With Kohli absent, India's batting lineup saw a reshuffle, raising questions about Shubman Gill’s future role after being moved from his regular opening slot. Meanwhile, Jaiswal has a golden opportunity to stake his claim in the ODI setup, while Shreyas Iyer will be eager to reinforce his credentials at No. 3.
India’s revised combination will be under scrutiny as they look to make a strong start to the series.
INDIA PLAYING XI FOR 1st ODI vs ENGLAND
Rohit Sharma (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami.
