India Trails as England Makes Strong Start in Second ODI

CUTTACK, India — England got off to a fiery start in the second ODI against India, with openers Phil Salt and Ben Duckett building a strong partnership after skipper Jos Buttler won the toss and elected to bat. The match, held at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Cuttack, saw the visitors aim to bounce back after their loss in the series opener.

India’s bowling attack, led by the returning Virat Kohli, struggled to contain the England openers in the early stages. Kohli, who missed the first ODI due to a knee injury, returned to the lineup, replacing Yashasvi Jaiswal. Mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy also made his ODI debut, adding intrigue to India’s bowling strategy.

The decision to bat first seemed to pay off for England, as Salt and Duckett capitalized on the powerplay. However, the Indian bowlers gradually found their rhythm, with Chakaravarthy and Co. aiming to restrict England’s momentum in the middle overs. Rohit Sharma, India’s captain, will be under pressure to lead his team to a series victory after a shaky performance in the first match.

Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer, who scored a match-winning 59 in the first ODI, faced uncertainty about his place in the team. Despite his recent form, Iyer was benched in favor of Kohli and Jaiswal. “I was watching a movie last night, thinking I could stay up late, but then I got a call from the skipper saying I might have to play because Virat had a swollen knee,” Iyer had revealed earlier.

The match is crucial for both teams, with England aiming to level the series and India looking to extend their lead. With the return of Kohli and the debut of Chakaravarthy, the second ODI promises to be a thrilling encounter.