Star India batter Virat Kohli has recovered from his knee injury and will be available for selection in the second ODI against England at Cuttack on Sunday.
Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak confirmed Kohli’s fitness status during a pre-match media interaction.
“Virat Kohli is fit to play. He has come for practice and is good to go,” Kotak told mediapersons on the eve of the second game.
Kotak remained uncertain about who Kohli would replace in the playing XI.
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India’s chase of 249 in the first ODI began on a shaky note, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma departing early, leaving the team at 19/2. However, Shreyas Iyer steadied the innings with a counterattacking 36-ball 59, ensuring India remained on track.
After the match, Iyer revealed that his inclusion in the XI was a last-minute decision following Kohli’s injury. Now, with Kohli fit to return, the team faces a selection dilemma over who will make way.
Kotak acknowledged that he had no role in the final team selection.
“That’s something for the head coach and captain to decide. Yes, the left-right combination is an important factor, but that’s not a question for me to answer,” he said.
Rohit’s struggles in the Test format extended to the first ODI, where he was dismissed for just two runs off seven balls.
Across his last 16 innings in all formats, Rohit has managed only 166 runs at a disappointing average of 10.37, with just one half-century to his name.
“I personally don’t see any issue with his form. In his last three ODIs, Rohit has scored 56, 64, and 35,” Kotak said.
“That means he has been averaging over 50 in those matches. We are talking about a player who has 31 ODI centuries. When someone keeps scoring, no one questions when they will fail,” Kotak, who was appointed in the aftermath of their Australian Test series defeat, added.
“Sometimes, a player might have a lean patch, but that doesn’t worry me. Yes, in the Australia Test match, it was tough, and he got out early, but in ODIs, he has been performing consistently. So, there’s no real concern about his form.”
Kotak acknowledged the team’s shaky start but emphasised the middle order’s crucial contributions in stabilizing the innings.
“We lost two early wickets, but there were plenty of positives, especially how our No. 3, 4, and 5 batted. Two big partnerships stood out. Gill, Shreyas, and Axar all played really well,” he said.
“In any match, you might lose wickets, whether it’s the openers or the middle order. But overall, as a batting unit, we showed great intent. Even when the required rate was nearly 9-10 runs per over, we didn’t let them gain control.”
With the Champions Trophy set to commence on February 19 in Dubai and Pakistan, Kotak expressed confidence in their preparation.
“The entire team looks solid. Whether there is any experiment, new players will come to the XI or some senior players will be left out. It’s the head coach and captain who will discuss and they will decide. So, I don’t think I can make any comment on that.”
On Mohammed Shami’s fitness, Kotak reassured that the pacer was “completely fit”. Shami returned to the International cricket in the preceding T20I series after a 14-month injury layoff.
Asked whether Arshdeep Singh might get a chance, he repeated, “That decision lies with the head coach and captain.”
Regarding Jasprit Bumrah’s injury status, he admitted he was unaware of the scan results. “That’s something the physio would know,” he signed off.