IND vs ENG 2025: Virat Kohli confirmed to play Cuttack ODI

Star batter Virat Kohli has been confirmed in the Playing XI for the second One-Day International (ODI) of the ongoing series between India and England. The game will be played at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Sunday, February 09 and Kohli will feature in the match as no. 3 batter, after missing out in the opening match of the series due to discomfort with his right knee.

The news of Kohli's return was made by batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, in a pre-match conference on Saturday. “Kohli is fit, yes, he is practicing with us today. He is good to go," the batting coach confirmed in his statement.

The first game was one-sided affair for the Indian team, as they won the match by four wickets and 68 balls remaining. In Kohli's absence, vice-captain Shubman Gill donned the role to perfection, scoring a match-defining innings of 87 runs, ensuring a comfortable chase for the Men in Blue. With Kohli being back, Yashasvi Jaiswal who made his debut in the Nagpur encounter, may have to sit out. However, chances are there that Shreyas Iyer also might be making way for the senior batter.

Notably, after the first ODI, Iyer had himself confirmed that he played the match as a last-minute inclusion in the Playing XI due to Kohli's knee issue, and as a result, it will be interesting to see the combination that skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir decide for the important game on Sunday, as a win would mean that India will win the series, a much-needed boost for them going into the marquee ICC Champions Trophy 2025, starting February 19.

“As you all know I wasn’t supposed to play today. Virat unfortunately got injured and then I got the opportunity. I kept myself prepared. I knew that at any point of time I can get a chance to play. The same thing happened with me last year as well during the Asia Cup. I got injured and someone else came in and scored a century,” the Mumbai batter had informed after the first ODI.

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The game in Cuttack will see Kohli feature in his fifth ODI match at the Barabati Stadium. His batting numbers aren't great at the venue, which will be hosting a One-Day after six long years. Kohli has played four innings so far here, aggregating 118 runs at an average of 29.50, including a single half-century and a high score of 85.

Captain Rohit Sharma, on the other hand, has much better stats in Cuttack, amassing 143 runs in just three One-Dayers at an average of 71.50. Rohit would want to use this to good effect in the upcoming encounter, and may look to rediscover his form with the bat.