In an unexpected turn of events, India's stand-in captain Shreyas Iyer revealed that he would not have played in the first ODI against England if regular captain Virat Kohli had been fit. The decision to rest Kohli and bring in Iyer instead shows the team's focus on building a strong batting line-up with a left-right combination, as seen in the Champions Trophy. With contributions from Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, and Axar Patel, India clinched a four-wicket win in the first match of the series.
India's Stand-In Skipper Shreyas Iyer Reveals Surprise Decision
In a surprising turn of events, India's stand-in captain Shreyas Iyer disclosed that he would not have played in the first ODI against England if regular captain Virat Kohli had been fit.
Background:
Virat Kohli was rested for the first ODI against England due to a hamstring niggle. Shreyas Iyer, who has been in impressive form for India in white-ball cricket, was named as his replacement.
Iyer's Admission:
Addressing the media after India's four-wicket win in the first ODI, Iyer revealed that he would have stepped aside for Kohli if the latter was available.
"I had a chat with the management before the game," said Iyer. "They told me that Virat is not fully fit, so I will be leading the team. I was surprised because I thought Virat would play. I was mentally prepared to play as a specialist batter."
Team's Batting Strategy:
Iyer's decision to rest himself highlights the team management's focus on building a strong batting line-up with a left-right combination, as seen in the 2017 Champions Trophy.
"We have a very attacking batting line-up," said Iyer. "We want to have a left-right combination, and that's why I was brought into the team. I think we are doing well and we can keep improving."
Contributions from Others:
India's victory in the first ODI was not just due to Iyer's captaincy. Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, and Axar Patel all chipped in with valuable contributions.
Gill scored a brilliant 64, while Iyer and Patel added 56 and 31, respectively. Their efforts helped India chase down England's total of 256 with four wickets to spare.
Top 5 FAQs
1. Why was Virat Kohli rested for the first ODI? Virat Kohli was rested due to a hamstring niggle.
2. Who replaced Virat Kohli as captain? Shreyas Iyer replaced Virat Kohli as captain for the first ODI.
3. Why did Shreyas Iyer say he would not have played if Kohli was fit? Iyer said he was mentally prepared to play as a specialist batter and had only been asked to captain due to Kohli's absence.
4. What was India's batting strategy in the first ODI? India focused on building a strong batting line-up with a left-right combination.
5. Who were the key contributors to India's victory in the first ODI? Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, and Axar Patel were the key contributors to India's victory in the first ODI.
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