6 February, 2025; India’s star batter Virat Kohli has been ruled out of the first ODI against England in Nagpur after suffering a right knee injury during a practice session on the eve of the match. India captain Rohit Sharma confirmed the news at the toss, explaining that Kohli sustained the injury on Wednesday evening while training. As a result, Kohli’s absence opened the door for young left-handed batter Yashasvi Jaiswal, who made his ODI debut alongside bowling all-rounder Harshit Rana.
Rohit Sharma and Jaiswal were slotted to open the innings for India, while vice-captain Shubman Gill, who would have taken the opening spot if Kohli had been fit, was listed at No. 4 on the BCCI team sheet. India lost the toss and were asked to bowl first in the opening match of the three-ODI series.
Last ODI Series Before Champions Trophy
This series is crucial for India, as it marks their final preparation before the Champions Trophy, which begins on February 19. India hasn’t played ODI cricket since August last year, when they lost a three-match series 2-0 in Sri Lanka, with one match ending in a tie. With the Champions Trophy around the corner, the series offers India a chance to finalize their playing combination and regain momentum in the 50-over format.
Kohli’s Recent Form Under Scrutiny
Kohli’s form has been a topic of discussion in recent months. On the recent tour of Australia, Kohli struggled against the seamers, with all his dismissals resulting from edges caught behind or in the slip cordon. In an effort to regain his rhythm, Kohli spent a week working with former India and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) batting coach Sanjay Bangar. He even returned to domestic cricket, playing a Ranji Trophy match for Delhi—his first appearance in the competition since 2012—though he was dismissed for just six runs against Railways.
ODI Cricket: Kohli’s Strongest Format
Despite recent challenges, ODI cricket remains Kohli’s strongest suit. He is just 94 runs away from becoming the third player in history to reach 14,000 runs in the format. Only Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara have achieved this milestone, but Kohli is poised to become the fastest to reach it. His return to form will be crucial for India’s chances, not only in this series but also in the upcoming Champions Trophy.
As the Indian team takes the field without their talismanic batter, all eyes will be on Yashasvi Jaiswal and Harshit Rana to see how they perform under pressure. Meanwhile, fans will hope for Kohli’s quick recovery and a strong comeback in the remaining matches of the series.
