Virat Kohli Misses the 1st ODI: India will begin their preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 with a three-match ODI series against England. This is the only ODI series India have to fine-tune their strategies for the Champions Trophy, which will kick off on February 19.
While the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian T20I team thrashed England by 4-1, the ODI unit under Rohit Sharma bears a significantly different outlook.
The first ODI got underway on February 6 at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur. England had announced their playing XI a day before the match, confirming that Joe Root will make his return to ODI cricket for the first time since the World Cup 2023. The rest of England’s team players had participated in the T20I series.
For India, there were wholesale changes from the T20I team. Rohit Sharma, the captain, who is retired from T20Is, returns to action after the disastrous BGT 2024/25.
India also handed ODI debuts to Yashasvi Jaiswal and Harshit Rana, while KL Rahul got the nod over Rishabh Pant for the wicket-keeper and No. 5 role. Shreyas Iyer has been retained in the ODI XI. Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Shami also made their returns after an injury layoff.
The biggest news, though, was the absence of senior batsman Virat Kohli. Kohli did not play in the 1st ODI in Nagpur.
Why Virat Kohli Misses the 1st ODI Today Against England In Nagpur?
Rohit said at the toss that Kohli sustained a knee injury a day before the 1st ODI against England and hence will not play in the Nagpur ODI. Kohli was seen with a strapping on his knee and walking gingerly during the practice session before the match.
This is a missed opportunity for Kohli to return to form after an underwhelming time in Test cricket.
India vs England 1st ODI Playing XIs:
India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami
England (Playing XI): Ben Duckett, Philip Salt (wk), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c), Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood
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