IND vs ENG: Shreyas Iyer drops a bombshell statement on Virat Kohli’s absence from the Nagpur ODI

India’s ODI campaign against England begins with a win at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. While the team’s solid performance emerged as a major talking point in the cricketing world, the Indian team missed Virat Kohli in the opening ODI due to a right-knee injury. During the match, Shreyas Iyer played a dominant innings in India’s successful run-chase. However, an after-match revelation from the middle-order batter sparked new controversy amongst fans and analysts alike.

Shreyas Iyer reveals the shocking turn of events which led to his inclusion in the team

The 1st ODI between India and England was star-studded by a power-packed knock from Iyer and top-order batter Shubman Gill who paved the way for an empathic win for the home side by 4 wickets. The two batters carved out a crucial partnership for the Indian team after the opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma went back to the pavilion early on during the run chase.

However, after the match, Iyer featured in a discussion on Star Sports with broadcasters and former cricketers Kevin Pietersen and Parthiv Patel in which the 30-year-old talked about the circumstances which led to his inclusion in the playing XI ahead of the 1st ODI.

“I wasn’t supposed to play the first game. As we all know, Virat unfortunately got injured and then I got the opportunity. But I had kept myself prepared. I knew that, you know, at any point in time, I could get a chance to play. And the same thing happened to me last year during the Asia Cup. I got injured, and someone else came, and he scored a century,” Iyer remarked.

Additionally, he also talked about the kind of shift in the mindset he had to undergo after knowing that he is going to play in the opening ODI, the 30-year-old highlighted the kind of situation he was in before the match through a rather funny incident.

“It’s actually a funny story. I was watching the movie last night. I thought that I could extend my nighttime. Then I got a call from the skipper saying that I may play because Virat has got a swollen knee, and I hurried back to my room and went off to sleep straight. So we didn’t know that,” Iyer concluded.

Also Read: win-over-england-in-nagpur-odi/” data-wpel-link=”internal” target=”_self”>Twitter reactions: India takes a 1-0 series lead as Shubman Gill stars in four-wicket win over England in Nagpur ODI

Iyer’s fine form at No.4 in the Indian team

Iyer has firmly established himself as India’s cornerstone at No. 4 in the ODI format, putting an end to the long-standing dilemma that plagued the team during the 2019 World Cup. Over the past couple of years, he has seamlessly taken on the role and delivered consistent performances.

In the 2023 edition of the tournament, he was India’s second-highest run-scorer, amassing an impressive 530 runs at an average of 66.25, accompanied by a strike rate of 113.24. His tally included two centuries and three fifties, making him India’s most successful No. 4 in a World Cup edition. During the opening 50-over encounter against England, he played a counter-attacking 59-run knock off just 36 balls, demonstrating his ability to dominate when it matters most.

Also Read: Kevin Pietersen hails a rising Indian star with shades of Yuvraj Singh