Cuttack Waits For Virat Kohli’s Return To Indian ODI XI After Nagpur Miss

Cuttack: Fans, who queued up for as long as 14 hours to grab offline tickets for the India vs England 2nd ODI slated for February 9 at Cuttack’s Barabati Stadium, said they wanted to see Viral Kholi and Rohit Sharma live in action for one last time before they hang up their boots.

The excitement was palpable since an international match was being played at Barabati Stadium here after a gap of 5 years.

With Kohli forced to sit out of the series opener in Nagpur, which India won by four wickets, due to swelling in his right knee, the cricket enthusiasts here are now praying hard hoping for him to make his much-anticipated return to the Indian ODI XI in Cuttack.

His absence had disheartened fans in Nagpur.

Putting all speculation about whether Indian star batter will return in the famous blue jersey during the 2nd ODI to rest, vice-captain Shubman Gill on Thursday said that there was nothing much to worry and he will be available for the the match in Cuttack on Sunday at Barabati Stadium.

However, Kohli’s return poses an interesting selection dilemma for the team management with Shreyas Iyer putting up an impressive performance with 59 off 36 balls knock, playing in the No. 4 spot, after his last-time inclusion. His aggressive stroke play, coupled with Shubman Gill’s steady 87-run knock, helped India recover after the early dismissals of Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who made his ODI debut in Nagpur.

It is to be seen whether 39-year-old batter will play in his preferred No. 3 position, pushing Gill down. And Shreyas is likely to sit out as Rohit Sharma might pick Yashasvi for the right-left combination at the top of the batting order with the bowling department looking sorted.

TEAMS TO ARRIVE IN BHUBANESWAR TODAY

The Indian and English cricket teams are set to arrive in Odisha capital on Friday, February 7. Both teams will check in at the luxurious Mayfair Lagoon where extensive arrangements have been made to ensure a comfortable stay for the players.

The hotel has undergone lavish natural decorations, featuring manicured gardens, vibrant floral arrangements, and picturesque pools. The culinary team at Mayfair Lagoon, in collaboration with dieticians from both teams, has curated a specialised menu catering to the players’ nutritional needs. A unique addition to the menu this time is a selection of millet-based Odia delicacies, in line with the region’s rich culinary heritage and health-conscious trends, according to reports.

Meanwhile, security has been tightened across Bhubaneswar and Cuttack to ensure the smooth movement of the teams, which will travel in high-security convoys between their hotel and the Barabati Stadium for practice sessions and the match.

“Spectators will not be allowed to carry water bottles to the stadium during the match. A total of 50 platoons of police force will be deployed for the match,” Commissioner of Police S. Dev Datta Singh informed on Friday.