India’s vice-captain Shubman Gill has assured fans that Virat Kohli will be fit to play in the second ODI against England in Cuttack. The news comes as a relief after Kohli missed the series opener in Nagpur due to a right knee injury. Despite his absence, India secured a four-wicket win to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Kohli’s Knee Injury: What Happened?
Kohli’s injury came to light just before the first ODI when he failed a late fitness test. Until the day before the match, he was participating in practice sessions without any apparent discomfort. However, on the morning of the game, swelling in his knee ruled him out.
Gill stepped in at Kohli’s usual No. 3 spot, while young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was added to the playing XI. Speaking after the match, Gill shared insights into Kohli’s condition:
- “When he woke up in the morning, he had some swelling in his knee. He was fine till yesterday’s practice session,” he said.
- “There’s nothing to worry about. He will definitely be fit for the next game.”
For Indian cricket fans, Kohli’s absence due to injury is a rare occurrence. The last time he missed an international match for fitness reasons was in January 2022, when a back spasm ruled him out of a Test against South Africa in Johannesburg.
India’s Batting Adjustments Without Kohli
Gill’s promotion to No. 3 turned out to be a crucial move. The 24-year-old delivered a well-paced 87-run knock off 95 balls, anchoring India’s chase of 249. His familiarity with the position, thanks to his experience in Test cricket, helped him adapt smoothly.
“If you are batting at number three and early wickets fall, you have to play according to the situation,” he explained post-match.
Jaiswal, who got the opportunity to open, made a quick start but couldn’t convert it into a big score. Meanwhile, middle-order batsmen Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel chipped in with key contributions to steer India home.
Kohli Eyes Historic Milestone in Cuttack
With Kohli set to return, attention now shifts to a personal milestone that could add another feather to his illustrious cap. The 35-year-old is just 94 runs away from reaching 14,000 ODI runs, a feat achieved by only two players in history—Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara.
If he gets there in Cuttack, he will become the fastest to achieve the landmark in terms of innings played. Kohli currently has 13,906 runs in 277 ODIs. For context, here’s how the fastest to 14,000 ODI runs compare:
| Player | Innings to 14,000 Runs |
|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar | 350 |
| Kumar Sangakkara | 378 |
| Virat Kohli (current) | 277* (on course) |
Given Kohli’s history of delivering big knocks under pressure, this milestone could well be reached in Cuttack.
Bowlers Set the Tone in Nagpur
India’s first home ODI since the 2023 World Cup saw the bowlers deliver an outstanding performance. Debutant pacer Harshit Rana, who earned his cap in the absence of Mohammed Shami, impressed with three wickets, while the experienced Ravindra Jadeja also bagged three scalps.
Jadeja’s spell was particularly significant. With his three-fer in Nagpur, he became the leading wicket-taker in India-England ODIs, surpassing Anil Kumble’s record. His accuracy and ability to control the middle overs played a major role in restricting England to 248.
As the series moves to Cuttack, England will be keen to bounce back, while India, with Kohli back in the lineup, will aim to seal the series with a game to spare.
