While Barabati Stadium in Cuttack is ready for the second ODI of the three-match ODI series between India and England, everyone is eyeing the former Indian captain Virat Kohli’s fitness status.

The 36-year-old Indian cricketer Virat Kohli surprisingly missed out on the ODI series opener at Nagpur last Thursday (February 6) due to a right knee injury. On the previous evening of the Nagpur ODI, Kohli sustained a knee injury as there was some swelling in his knee. 

While the injury wasn’t serious anyway, Team India decided to choose Shreyas Iyer as a replacement for Kohli in the ODI series opener at Nagpur. Iyer played a game-changing role in the early period of the 249-run chase, as the hosts comfortably won that match by four wickets and took a 1-0 lead with two to go. 

Virat Kohli is available for the Cuttack ODI

Cuttack will host the second ODI of the series on Sunday (February 9). On the eve of the second ODI, Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak confirmed that Kohli is fit and available for the Cuttack match.

While England can’t afford another defeat in this series, India are one win away from sealing this ODI series and maintaining their home dominance record against England in the ODI format.

See Also: Shreyas Iyer having the answers for the short ball incomings

Who will leave the place for Virat Kohli?

During the Nagpur ODI, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal made his ODI debut along with the ODI debutant fast bowler Harshit Rana. Jaiswal impressed with his fielding as his catch dismissed the dangerous English opener Ben Duckett and completely changed the game flow. However, the left-handed opening batter scored 15 off 22 balls with three fours. 

As Kohli is set to return to the Cuttack ODI, it will be interesting to see who will be out from the Indian playing XI. While Iyer proved his value in the series opener, Indian team management is also desperate to give enough time to the 23-year-old opener Jaiswal.

As the all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel both had valuable roles in the Nagpur ODI, it is a good headache for the Indian team management ahead of the Cuttack ODI.

India vs England, second ODI at Cuttack

The second ODI of the three-match India vs England ODI series will be played on Sunday (February 9) at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. The match will begin at 1:30 PM local time (toss at 1:00 PM local time). India are leading this series by 1-0.