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Things are not going well for India’s batting stalwart Virat Kohli. Amid the lean patch he was going through, Kohli sustained a groin injury that will keep him out of the first ODI against England. This comes as a shocker for the former India captain as the 50-over format is reckoned as the best-suited format for Kohli. Nonetheless, with Kohli ruled out, the No.3 batting position is up for grabs and captain Rohit Sharma confirmed that Shreyas Iyer will be replacing him at that position.
While reports had suggested that, Suryakumar Yadav, who has been in phenomenal form in white-ball cricket recently can bat at No.3 until Kohli is deemed fit to play, Rohit categorically mentioned Iyer's name. Meanwhile, Rohit and Shikhar Dhawan will open the innings.
"We are going to bowl first. There is some grass cover and it's overcast as well. I guess sun will be out in sometime. We want to have a score in front of us. Shami, Bumrah - those guys can swing the ball. It's important to take wickets upfront and put brakes on the scoring," Rohit said at the toss.
"We understand the importance of playing overseas, we want to do well outside India. Today is no different. We have five batters, two all-rounders. Kohli is not playing this game, Shreyas will bat at 3," he added.
Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja have filled the all-rounders’ slots with Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Yuzvendra Chahal taking up the bowling slots. Prasidh Krishna has got the nod ahead of Shardul Thakur. Notably, Krishna is India’s leading wicket-taker in ODIs this year with 12 wickets in 4 ODIs.
India’s Playing XI for 1st ODI against England: Rohit Sharma (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, Prasidh Krishna