India took charge of the 305-run chase right from the start in the second ODI, as Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill put on a batting masterclass during the powerplay. The duo piled on 77 runs in the first 10 overs, which included a half-hour break due to a floodlight failure.
They quickly reached their respective half-centuries before the first breakthrough came in the 17th over with the score at 136. However, the atmosphere in the stadium shifted dramatically, with the crowd’s decibel levels rising as they eagerly awaited the arrival of Virat Kohli for his first ODI of the year.
Unfortunately for the fans, the moment of excitement was short-lived. Kohli lasted just eight deliveries before falling to Adil Rashid in a somewhat controversial manner.
In the third ball of the 20th over, Rashid bowled a well-pitched delivery in line with the stumps that looped beautifully before bouncing. Kohli, as expected, was drawn forward and attempted to push the leg-break through the offside, but the ball turned enough to beat his shot and went to wicketkeeper Phil Salt’s gloves.
The English team immediately appealed, with Salt confident that they had their man. Jos Buttler wasted no time after the umpire’s initial rejection and opted for the review. Kohli, on the other hand, appeared calm, waiting for the replays. When the snicko showed a distinct spike as the ball passed near Kohli’s bat, the veteran batsman grimaced in disbelief but walked off without protest.
— jithesh (@jithesh1569353) February 9, 2025
This marked the 10th time Kohli had fallen to Rashid in international cricket, making him the bowler with the second-most wickets against the 36-year-old in all formats for India. Meanwhile, Twitter was buzzing with debates over the dismissal, with some fans still unconvinced about the decision.