Courtesy: BCCI
On the eve of the second ODI of the three-match series, Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak confirmed that Virat Kohli is fit and will be playing the game against England at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack tomorrow. The 52-year-old said in the pre-match press conference about Virat Kohli recovering completely from the right knee issue, which kept him out of the first ODI in Nagpur a couple of days ago.
Notably, in the absence of Virat Kohli, right-handed batter Shreyas Iyer kept his place in the playing XI for India against England at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium. He went on to score a quick-fire fifty during India’s pursuit of the 249-run target in the first ODI of the series, getting to the milestone in just 30 balls, which helped the team win the match comfortably with four wickets in hand and 68 balls to spare.
Virat Kohli is fit to play. He has come for practice and is good to go: Sitanshu Kotak
In the build-up to the second ODI at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, when Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak was asked about the latest update on Virat Kohli’s fitness, he gave good news as far as the Indian fans are concerned. He was quoted as saying, as per the news report from PTI, “Virat Kohli is fit to play. He has come for practice and is good to go.”
However, once the question was asked about whom Virat Kohli will replace in the playing XI of the Indian cricket team in the second ODI, either Yashasvi Jaiswal or Shreyas Iyer, the 52-year-old didn’t give any clear cut answer. He remarked, “It is captain (Rohit Sharma) and coach’s (Gautam Gambhir) call. I can’t answer this,” which essentially means that the team news will be confirmed at toss time tomorrow.
India already possesses a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series, and they have a great chance to clinch it with a game to spare, to give their fringe players a chance in the final match of the series ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
