Virat Kohli confirmed for 2nd IND vs ENG ODI, Iyer could face the axe

A positive update has emerged from the Indian camp ahead of the second ODI against England. Virat Kohli, who missed the series opener due to a swollen knee, has received the green signal to play the next fixture. India's batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, confirmed the update following initial insights from Shubman Gill, who had noted that Kohli's injury was not serious. However, Kohli's return poses a significant question regarding the potential omission from India's playing XI that won the first ODI. Meanwhile, reports based on observations made during the team's net session suggest that Shreyas Iyer might be the one to make way.

Is the half-century in the first ODI not enough for Shreyas Iyer to keep his place in the team?

The unavailability of Virat Kohli in the first match opened the way for Yashasvi Jaiswal in the team. However, as explained by Shreyas Iyer following India's victory in the first ODI, Jaiswal was set to earn his debut irrespective of Kohli's injury. Iyer admitted that his place in the Playing XI for the first India vs England ODI shaped up due to Kohli's injury. Had Kohli played, Iyer would have benched. The admission and the rationale of the management were utterly shocking given the impressive record of the batter in the ODIs for India. However, despite his fiery half-century in the first ODI, Iyer might still lose his place in the team when Kohli comes back to play the next fixture.

As per a latest report, Shreyas Iyer might not find a place in India’s playing XI for the second ODI against England in Cuttack. Apparently, the team management is keen on maintaining a left-right batting combination, which increases the chances of Yashasvi Jaiswal chances of retaining his spot at the top of the order.

The report further stated that Iyer was missing from India’s optional net session on Saturday, a day before the second match. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli, who missed the series opener due to a knee issue, spent nearly an hour batting in the nets. He looked at ease, executing shots fluently against local net bowlers, with his timing described as ‘exquisite.’ If he returns to the XI, he is expected to slot in at number four, a position he last played in 2020. Subsequently, Jaiswal will open with Rohit and Shubman Gill will keep the third spot to himself.

The report further added that several key players, including Shubman Gill, Mohammed Shami, Hardik Pandya, and Harshit Rana, also skipped the optional practice. Rohit Sharma, however, had a challenging session, getting bowled twice by local net bowlers, a concerning sign given his failure to get into double digits in the first ODI. Iyer was widely regarded as India’s first-choice number four leading into this series, particularly after his consistency during the 2023 World Cup. Initially, Jaiswal’s inclusion seemed like a temporary move in Kohli’s absence.

“That’s something for the head coach and captain to decide. Yes, the left-right combination is an important factor, but that’s not a question for me to answer," the Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said after he confirmed Virat Kohli's availability for the second ODI.