England Win Toss, Opts To Bat First In First ODI Against India, Virat Kohli Excluded From The Squad

February 6, 2025: England’s captain Jos Buttler won the toss and chose to bat first in the opening One-Day International (ODI) against India at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium on Thursday. This match marks the beginning of a new series after a thrilling T20I series that saw India triumph with a dominant 4-1 victory.

The ODI series provides both teams with a valuable opportunity to finalize their squads and playing combinations ahead of the much-anticipated Champions Trophy. With the conditions in India set to be a significant challenge, both teams are eager to fine-tune their strategies for the upcoming tournament.

India’s squad saw two exciting debutants on the field, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Harshit Rana receiving their maiden ODI caps before the toss. The young duo will be eager to make their mark in this highly competitive series. However, India will be missing the services of their star player Virat Kohli, who was ruled out due to a knee problem sustained the previous night. In his absence, KL Rahul will take up the wicketkeeping duties.

England’s squad for the ODI series is almost identical to the one that participated in the T20I series. The major change was the inclusion of Joe Root, who replaced Jamie Overton in the playing XI. Root’s return is expected to bolster England’s middle order and provide additional stability.

England’s captain Jos Buttler expressed his optimism after winning the toss, saying, “We will bat first today. Nice thing going in the dressing room, looking forward to these ODIs and we’re happy to welcome back Joe Root. The morale has been good, everyone’s good and the Baz has looked after us well. We’re playing against a top side in their conditions, a tough test ahead of the Champions Trophy. We’re playing 3 pacers and an extra spin-bowling all-rounder.”

India’s captain Rohit Sharma, while acknowledging that they wanted to bowl first, emphasized the importance of being aggressive with the ball. He said, “It doesn’t matter a lot. Need to be aggressive with the ball at the start and then need to do well later. Nice to get some time off, it’s a fresh start and this is a great chance to do well. It’s very important to get some game time, and try and maximize whatever opportunity we have.” Sharma also welcomed the debutants Jaiswal and Rana, while confirming Kohli’s absence due to his knee injury.

England (Playing XI):

• Ben Duckett
• Phil Salt
• Joe Root
• Harry Brook
• Jos Buttler (C)
• Liam Livingstone
• Jacob Bethell
• Brydon Carse
• Jofra Archer
• Adil Rashid
• Saqib Mahmood

India (Playing XI):

• Rohit Sharma (C)
• Yashasvi Jaiswal
• Shreyas Iyer
• Shubman Gill
• KL Rahul (wk)
• Hardik Pandya
• Axar Patel
• Ravindra Jadeja
• Harshit Rana
• Kuldeep Yadav
• Mohammed Shami

With both teams eager to secure an important win and gain momentum for the Champions Trophy, this first ODI promises to be a thrilling contest.