India Stuns England with Thrilling ODI Win; Shreyas Iyer's Surprise Inclusion Raises Eyebrows

NEW DELHI: India triumphed over England in the first ODI match of their three-match series, with captain Rohit Sharma's men emerging victorious by 8 wickets. Star batter Virat Kohli was ruled out due to a swollen right knee, forcing Indian officials into a surprise decision that saw seasoned batsman Shreyas Iyer come off the bench.

Iyer, who is India's preferred No. 4 batter in ODIs, played a crucial role in the match-winning innings, scoring 59 off just 36 balls. In a post-match interview, when asked about his initial exclusion from the team, Iyer revealed he was called up at short notice after Kohli pulled out due to injury.

"I was watching a movie last night, thinking I could extend my night, but then I got a call from the skipper saying that I might play because Virat has got a swollen knee. And then I hurried back to my room and went off to sleep straight away," he recalled.

When questioned about Yashasvi Jaiswal's inclusion ahead of him in the original XI, Iyer diplomatically sidestepped controversy, opting instead to focus on the team's morale-boosting victory.

"You know what you want me to say, but I'm going to keep it low-key and cherish this moment, the victory today," he added.

Jaiswal's inclusion sparked a reshuffle in India's top order, with regular openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill being split. Kohli's absence means that the team must now find a new No. 3 bat, an opening that had originally been earmarked for Jaiswal.

Iyer has been India's go-to middle-order batsman in ODIs of late, having scored significant runs throughout the tournament that saw the team reach the 2023 World Cup final. His impressive strike rate of 113.24 among middle-order batters will be a vital factor as the team gears up for the upcoming Champions Trophy.

With this ODI series providing India's last chance to fine-tune their combination, Jaiswal's inclusion signals that the selectors are keeping him in mind as a backup opener in case of injuries. Meanwhile, Gill's stint in the middle order might serve as a trial run for a potential role adjustment.

The Champions Trophy is set to kick off on February 19, with India looking to build momentum ahead of the bigger tournament.