IND vs ENG, 2nd ODI Preview: Rohit Sharma’s form and selection dilemma over Virat Kohli’s return loom large for Team India | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: India’s quest for a series win against England faces two towering challenges – captain Rohit Sharma’s prolonged dry spell and the selection conundrum that may arise with Virat Kohli’s potential return. Having taken a 1-0 lead with a hard-fought four-wicket win in Nagpur, India will aim to seal the series when the teams face off in the second ODI in Cuttack on Sunday.
Kohli’s absence in the opening match due to a “sore right knee” had raised concerns about his fitness, particularly with the Champions Trophy just around the corner.

However, vice-captain Shubman Gill hinted at a possible return, and Kohli’s relaxed demeanor in Cuttack suggests he might be ready to rejoin the playing XI.
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Kohli’s return, however, presents a selection dilemma. Shreyas Iyer, who replaced Kohli at the last minute, seized the opportunity with a blazing 36-ball 59, making his omission a difficult call. Traditionally, Kohli would slot back into the XI at Iyer’s expense, but Yashasvi Jaiswal could be the one to make way instead. If that happens, Gill might reunite with Rohit at the top, especially since Jaiswal failed to make a significant impact in Nagpur.

Beyond selection concerns, Kohli himself is in search of runs. His struggles in Australia, where he repeatedly edged deliveries behind, have put his form under scrutiny. His most recent domestic outing in the Ranji Trophy saw him fall for just six against Railways pacer Himanshu Sangwan.
However, ODIs have always been Kohli’s strongest format, and he is just 94 runs away from becoming the third batter in history to reach 14,000 runs in the format after Sachin Tendulkar (18,426) and Kumar Sangakkara (14,234). Having played 283 ODI innings so far, Kohli is also on the verge of becoming the fastest to reach the milestone, ahead of Tendulkar (350 innings) and Sangakkara (378).
Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma’s struggles continued in Nagpur, where he perished for just two runs, mirroring his disappointing Test series against Australia. His dismissal, a mistimed loft off Liam Livingstone that found midwicket, highlighted his desperation for runs. The Indian captain has not scored a fifty in any format since his 64 against Sri Lanka in Colombo last August.
India’s bowling unit looks stable, with Mohammed Shami settling in after his return from injury. He impressed in Nagpur, starting with a maiden over before finishing with figures of 1/38 in his eight-over spell. Debutant Harshit Rana had a mixed outing, leaking runs to Phil Salt early on but striking at a crucial juncture to dismiss Ben Duckett and Harry Brook in the same over. With concerns lingering over Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness, Rana has an opportunity to stake his claim with another strong performance.
For Jos Buttler’s England, this match is a must-win. Their ultra-aggressive batting approach faltered in Nagpur, and they may need to recalibrate their strategy on a Cuttack pitch that could assist India’s spinners. England’s hopes will rest on their ability to strike a balance between aggression and caution while countering India’s varied bowling attack.
Teams (from)

Match starts 1:30pm IST.