Cuttack, Feb 8: Star batter Virat Kohli is ready to play in the second ODI against England, confirmed India’s batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, on Saturday, while also addressing concerns regarding captain Rohit Sharma’s ongoing struggles.
Kohli missed the first ODI due to a sore right knee. India emerged victorious in the series opener in Nagpur, achieving a four-wicket win, which gave them a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
“Virat Kohli is fit to participate. He has practiced and is prepared,” Kotak stated during the pre-match media briefing.
He expressed uncertainty about who Kohli would replace in the lineup.
India faced a challenging start in their chase of 249 in the first ODI, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit dismissed early, leaving the team at 19/2.
However, Shreyas Iyer revitalized the innings with an aggressive 59 off 36 balls, keeping India on track. After the match, Iyer disclosed that his selection for the playing XI was a last-minute decision due to Kohli’s injury.
With Kohli now fit, it will be interesting to see who will be left out for his return.
Regarding team selection, Kotak acknowledged he did not have a say in the decision-making process.
“That’s for the head coach and captain to decide. Yes, the mix of left and right-hand batsmen is an important consideration, but that’s not for me to address,” he remarked.
Concerns about Rohit Sharma’s form — With his struggles continuing, Rohit had a disappointing outing in the Test format, scoring just two runs off seven balls in the first ODI.
Over his last 16 innings across formats, Rohit has managed only 166 runs at an average of 10.37, including just a single half-century.
“I don’t see any problem with his form. In his last three ODIs, Rohit has scored 56, 64, and 35,” Kotak said.
“That translates to an average of over 50 in those games. We are discussing a player with 31 ODI centuries. When a player consistently scores, no one questions their inevitable failures,” Kotak added, having been appointed following the team’s defeat in the Australian Test series.
“Sometimes, players do hit a rough patch, but I’m not worried. Yes, it was tough in the Australian Test match, and he got out early, but in ODIs, he has been consistently performing. So, there’s no real concern regarding his form.” Reflections on Nagpur’s positives
When assessing the team’s performance, Kotak underscored the contributions from the middle order after India’s early setbacks.
“While we lost two early wickets, there were numerous positives, especially from our No. 3, 4, and 5 batsmen. Two significant partnerships emerged. Gill, Shreyas, and Axar all played exceptionally well,” he explained.
“In any match, losing wickets can happen, whether it’s openers or middle-order batsmen. But as a batting unit, we displayed excellent intent.
Even when the required run rate surged near 9-10 runs per over, we did not allow them to dominate.” Preparations for Champions Trophy
With the Champions Trophy set to kick off on February 19 in Dubai and Pakistan, Kotak expressed optimism about their readiness.
“The entire lineup appears solid. Whether any experimentation occurs, new players are brought into the XI, or veterans are excluded, the head coach and captain will deliberate and make the decision. Therefore, I can’t comment further on that.”
Concerning Mohammed Shami’s fitness, Kotak reassured that the pacer was in “excellent shape”. Shami made his return to international cricket in the prior T20I series following a 14-month injury layoff.
When asked if Arshdeep Singh might get a chance, he reiterated, “That decision lies with the head coach and captain.” Regarding Jasprit Bumrah’s injury status, he admitted he was unaware of the scan outcomes. “That’s something the physio would know,” he concluded. (Agencies)
