Virat Kohli was ruled out of the first ODI against England in Nagpur due to a knee injury, confirmed by India captain Rohit Sharma at the toss.
The extent of the injury is currently unknown, but it has raised questions about his fitness and availability for the tournament, especially with the Champions Trophy 2025 on the horizon.
Knee Injury Forces Kohli to Miss First ODI
The news of Kohli’s injury was confirmed by Indian captain Rohit Sharma at the toss, who revealed that Kohli had developed a knee problem.
Rohit Sharma also announced that Yashasvi Jaiswal would replace Kohli in the playing XI, making his ODI debut alongside Harshit Rana.
Visuals from the venue showed Kohli with a strap on his right knee, and he was seen walking cautiously.
This prompted the team management to take a cautious approach, not wanting to risk further aggravation with the Champions Trophy looming. The BCCI later confirmed that Kohli was absent due to a “sore right knee”.
Potential Replacements for Kohli in the ODI Squad
With Kohli sidelined, the Indian team may consider these potential replacements:
- Rajat Patidar: A stylish right-handed batter is known for his aggressive stroke play in the domestic circuit. In 63 List-A innings, Patidar has scored 2211 runs at an average of 37.47 and a strike rate of 99.59.
- B Sai Sudharsan: A consistent left-handed batter from Tamil Nadu, praised for his solid technique.
- Ruturaj Gaikwad: A highly-rated top-order batter.
Implications for India and RCB
Kohli’s injury is a significant setback for both the Indian team and his IPL franchise, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). He is a key player in both setups, and his absence would undoubtedly impact their performance.
For India, this series against England serves as crucial preparation for the Champions Trophy. Kohli’s experience and form in ODIs are vital to India’s chances in the tournament.
Rohit Sharma said, “This series is a great opportunity to fine-tune our game ahead of the Champions Trophy, especially since we haven’t played much ODI cricket since the World Cup”.
Injury-Prone Start to 2025
This knee injury adds to Kohli’s woes in 2025, as he also suffered a neck issue in January. This injury-prone start to the year has raised concerns about his overall fitness and ability to maintain peak performance.
Kohli’s Recent Form Under Scrutiny
Kohli’s recent form has also been a subject of discussion. After a poor Test series in Australia, he played a Ranji Trophy match for Delhi, where he was dismissed for just 6 runs.
While ODI cricket is considered his strongest format, he is 94 runs away from becoming the third batter to reach 14,000 runs in the format.
Uncertainty Looms
With the extent of Kohli’s injury still unknown, there is considerable uncertainty surrounding his participation in the remainder of the ODI series against England and, more importantly, the upcoming IPL 2025 season.
