Thu Feb 06 20:46:00 UTC 2025: **India’s Iyer Reveals Last-Minute Call-Up for England ODI Series Opener**
Nagpur, India – Indian batsman Shreyas Iyer surprisingly revealed he was only included in the first ODI against England due to Virat Kohli’s last-minute injury. Iyer, a key player in India’s middle order, had a stellar performance in the match, scoring a quick-fire 59 off 36 balls to help India recover from a poor start.
In a post-match interview, Iyer stated that he was not originally selected for the series opener. He only received a call-up the night before the match after Kohli was ruled out due to a swollen knee. Iyer admitted to being surprised but said he had remained prepared for an opportunity, having faced a similar situation last year during the Asia Cup.
The revelation left former cricketers Kevin Pietersen and Parthiv Patel stunned, with Patel suggesting debutant Yashasvi Jaiswal was initially intended to replace Kohli. Iyer, however, declined to elaborate on team selection strategies, choosing to focus on his match-winning contribution and the team’s victory. His impressive performance cemented his importance to the Indian team, despite the unexpected circumstances of his inclusion.
First Piper 