Shreyas Iyer or Yashasvi Jaiswal? Virat Kohli to replace this batter in playing XI for 2nd ODI vs England
Published - 09 Feb 2025, 10:16 AM | Updated - 09 Feb 2025, 11:35 PM
Team India middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer is likely to be dropped from the playing XI for the upcoming second ODI of the three-match series against England. Young opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal will retain his spot in the batting lineup despite the return of Virat Kohli, who missed the first ODI.
Virat Kohli has recovered from a knee injury and is set to play in the second ODI in Cuttack on Sunday, February 9. He missed the series opener due to swelling in his right knee. Iyer replaced him in the playing XI and delivered an impressive counter-attacking knock during India’s four-wicket win in Nagpur.
Yashasvi Jaiswal Likely to Retain His Spot as an Opener
Virat Kohli’s return for the second ODI creates a selection dilemma for India ahead of the game. The team must decide who will make way for Kohli—Shreyas Iyer, who played a crucial counter-attacking 30-ball fifty, or Yashasvi Jaiswal, who needs more game time to prepare for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
According to a report by news agency PTI, Yashasvi Jaiswal is likely to retain his spot as an opener as the team management prefers a left-right batting combination at the top.
Shreyas Iyer Absent from India’s Optional Nets Session on Saturday
The report added that Shreyas Iyer missed India’s optional nets session on Saturday, which raised doubts about his inclusion. Meanwhile, Kohli, who missed the first match due to a knee issue, sweated it out in the nets. The batter warmed up and then batted confidently for nearly an hour against local net bowlers.
According to the report, Kohli’s timing in the nets was described as ‘exquisite,’ drawing a small crowd to watch him practice. If he replaces Iyer in the playing XI, Kohli will likely bat at No. 4 - a position he last played in 2020.
I Got a Call from the Skipper Saying... - Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer was expected to bat at No. 4 in the first ODI due to his consistent performances leading up to and during the 2023 World Cup. However, Iyer revealed that he wasn’t originally in the playing XI and got a late call from captain Rohit Sharma informing him of Kohli’s injury, which opened up a spot.
“I was watching a movie last night, thinking I could stay up late, but then I got a call from the skipper saying I might have to play because Virat had a swollen knee. I rushed back to my room and went straight to sleep," Iyer said.
In the pre-match press conference, India's batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, stated that the decision regarding the team combination will be taken by the head coach and captain.
Team India Predicted XI for the second ODI vs England: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami.
