After much speculation and controversy, Shreyas Iyer remains in the team, despite Virat Kohli returning after his injury-related omission. India will face England in the second ODI at Cuttack’s Barabati Stadium today, February 9, with the match starting at 1:30 PM.
A large crowd gathered to watch the match, erupting in cheers when the captain confirmed that the sensational Virat Kohli would be playing in the second ODI.
Kohli had missed the first match in Nagpur due to knee swelling, but he wasn’t the main topic of controversy. That spotlight fell on Iyer, especially after he revealed he had received a last-minute call-up to the squad.
In a surprising move, debutant Yashasvi Jaiswal has been dropped to accommodate the Kohli-Iyer duo. Iyer had made an impactful 59-run innings in the previous match, hitting two sixes off England’s star bowler Jofra Archer. Addressing his critics, Iyer has noticeably improved his ability to handle short balls.
Kuldeep Yadav has been left out of the squad, with Varun Chakravarthy taking his place, marking his ODI debut. England won the toss and elected to bat first.
THE ROAR FOR VIRAT KOHLI WHEN ROHIT SHARMA ANNOUNCE HE'S PLAYING. 🔥
— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) February 9, 2025
– The Craze of King Kohli..!!!! 🐐pic.twitter.com/WtWskm3D2T
Regarding the pitch, Rohit Sharma described it as a typical Indian pitch with black soil. England has also made three changes to their lineup, bringing in Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson, and Jamie Overton.