Former India captain Virat Kohli who missed the first ODI against England due to a knee injury is fit ahead of the second clash against England which is scheduled to take place at VCA stadium in Cuttak. Team India are currently leading 1-0 in the three-match ODI series against Jos Buttler & Co.
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak confirmed that Kohli is fit for the second ODI. Team India are scheduled to play a three-match ODI series before the Champions Trophy 2025.
"Kohli is fit, here to train and good to go" said India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak on 2nd ODI eve.
Kohli is 94 runs away from becoming only the third batter to reach 14,000 runs in ODI. Only Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara have got there before, but Kohli is certain to become the fastest to the milestone.
Kohli who was training alongside Rohit-led India injured his knee before the first ODI and that's why he missed the clash. India's young batter Shubman Gill who plays as an opener in the ODI featured on number three as Virat Kohli-less India featured with two debutants Yashasvi Jaiswal and Harshit Rana.
Jaiswal opened the innings alongside Rohit Sharma but the southpaw failed to get a good start in his ODI debut match as he got out on just 15 runs in the fifth over. India captain Rohit also failed to perform as he also departed scoring just two runs.
However, he didn't divulge who among opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and last match's half-centurion Shreyas Iyer would be dropped from the playing eleven.
"It is captain (Rohit Sharma) and coach's (Gautam Gambhir) call. I can't answer this," Kotak replied.
He also played down skipper Rohit Sharma's poor form, stating that it is a mere "lean patch".
However, Shubman Gill (87), Shreyas Iyer (59) and Axar (52) helped India to chase 249 runs in first ODI after Harshit Rana (3/53 from 7 overs) and veteran spinner Ravindra Jadeja's (3/26 from 9) helped India to bundle out the visitors for a below-par 248.