India’s Batting Coach Confirms Kohli’s Availability

Virat Kohli is set to return for India’s second ODI against England, as confirmed by batting coach Sitanshu Kotak on the eve of the match in Cuttack. “Kohli is fit, yes, he is practicing with us today. He is good to go,” Kotak stated.

Kohli had sustained swelling in his right knee during a training session ahead of the series opener in Nagpur. Consequently, he was replaced in the playing XI by Shreyas Iyer, who made the most of the opportunity by scoring a half-century. Yashasvi Jaiswal partnered with Rohit Sharma at the top of the order in Kohli’s absence.

India’s Selection Dilemma with Kohli’s Return

With Kohli now available, India faces a selection conundrum. If Jaiswal is benched, Shubman Gill, who played at No. 3 and scored 87, may be promoted to open alongside Rohit Sharma, allowing Kohli to reclaim the No. 3 position. Alternatively, if Shreyas Iyer is dropped, Kohli and Gill could slot in at Nos. 3 and 4, respectively.

Kohli’s ODI Comeback and Key Milestone Ahead

The star batter hasn’t played an ODI since India’s Sri Lanka tour in August last year. The England series marks India’s final 50-over contest before the Champions Trophy, starting on February 19. Kohli’s recent form has been under scrutiny, especially after a disappointing Australia tour where he was repeatedly dismissed edging behind. In response, he trained under former India and RCB batting coach Sanjay Bangar before playing a Ranji Trophy match for Delhi—his first in the competition since 2012—where he managed only six runs against Railways.

Despite his recent struggles, ODI cricket remains Kohli’s strongest format. He is just 94 runs shy of reaching the 14,000-run milestone in ODIs. If he achieves this feat, he will become only the third batter in history to do so, following Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara, while also being the fastest to reach the landmark.