Virat Kohli Misses First ODI Against England Due to Knee Injury

India’s star batter, Virat Kohli, has been ruled out of the first ODI against England in Nagpur due to a knee injury he suffered while training on the eve of the match. Kohli’s absence from the game has brought a change in India’s lineup, with Yashasvi Jaiswal replacing him in the playing XI.

Injury During Training

Kohli, who has been struggling with form recently, injured his right knee during a training session on Wednesday evening. As a result, the Indian team had to make last-minute adjustments to their playing XI. Jaiswal, who is making his ODI debut, was slotted to open the batting alongside Rohit Sharma, while vice-captain Shubman Gill moved to No. 4, a position he would have taken had Kohli been fit.

The Impact on India’s Lineup

India captain, Rohit Sharma, mentioned Kohli’s injury at the toss and confirmed the adjustments to the team lineup. It remains to be seen whether these changes will have any further impact as India lost the toss and are bowling first in Nagpur.

India’s Final ODIs Before Champions Trophy

The three-match series against England is crucial for India as it is their last ODI series before the Champions Trophy begins on February 19. India’s most recent ODI series was in August 2023, where they lost a three-match series to Sri Lanka 2-0, with one match being tied. These upcoming ODIs are pivotal for India to fine-tune their squad ahead of the prestigious tournament.

Kohli’s Form and Milestone

Kohli has faced scrutiny over his form, particularly following a poor tour of Australia where he was dismissed multiple times due to edges caught by the wicketkeeper or slip cordon. To address his slump, he spent time working with former India and RCB batting coach Sanjay Bangar and played one Ranji Trophy match for Delhi, where he was bowled out for just 6 runs.

The Road to 14,000 Runs

Despite the struggles, ODI cricket remains Kohli’s strongest format. He is just 94 runs away from becoming the third player in history to score 14,000 ODI runs, joining the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara. However, Kohli is set to become the fastest to reach this landmark, an achievement that fans are eagerly awaiting.

For more information, check out the full details on the injury and India’s lineup changes in the ESPN Cricinfo article here.