Indian cricket star Virat Kohli is expected to play his first ODI of the year on Sunday, February 9, against England. The second match of the three-game series will take place at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. Kohli missed the series opener in Nagpur on February 6 due to a knee niggle.
In his absence, Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill guided India to a comfortable chase and victory. As the action shifts to Cuttack, Kohli will look to improve his record at the venue, where he has scored 118 runs in four ODIs at an average of 29.50, with one half-century.
Nagpur ✅
Hello Cuttack! 👋#TeamIndia have arrived for the 2nd #INDvENG ODI @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/XhdtAixiyF
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 8, 2025
Kohli made his ODI debut at Barabati Stadium in 2011 against the West Indies but managed only three runs. His struggles at the venue continued with scores of 22 (21) against Sri Lanka in 2014 and 8 (5) against England in 2017.
However, he delivered an improved performance in his latest appearance there in 2019 during the final ODI of a series against the West Indies. Batting first, the West Indies posted a competitive total of 315/5 in 50 overs, powered by solid contributions from their batting lineup.
Nicholas Pooran (89) and Kieron Pollard (74*) played explosive knocks, while Navdeep Saini stood out among Indian bowlers with figures of 2/58. Rohit Sharma (63) and KL Rahul (77) provided India with a strong start, forging a 122-run opening stand in pursuit of the challenging target.
However, frequent wickets in the middle overs made the chase more difficult. Skipper Virat Kohli steadied the innings, playing a brilliant 85 off 81 balls to guide India to victory and seal the series 2-1. For his match-winning knock in the second innings, Kohli was named the Player of the Match.
Shubman Gill Confident of Kohli’s Fitness for 2nd ODI
After India’s victory in the first ODI in Nagpur, Shubman Gill spoke to the broadcasters and explained the reason for Virat Kohli’s absence. He reassured that Kohli would be fit to play in the second match.
Sharing an update (via ‘India Today’), Gill said: “When he woke up in the morning, he had some swelling in his knee. He was fine during yesterday’s practice session. There’s nothing to worry about. He will definitely be fit for the next game.”
Gill, who batted at No. 3 in Kohli’s absence, played a crucial knock of 87 runs in the chase, earning him the Player of the Match award.
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