February may be on the calendar, but in Nagpur, it already feels like May. With temperatures soaring into the high 30s, the city is not just heating up weather-wise, but also with cricket fever. After a five-year wait, the Orange City is set to host an ODI, bringing together two former world champions in the opening clash of a high-stake three-match series.
Be it fans waiting in long queues for tickets or those eager to catch a glimpse of their favorite Indian player, the sun was beating down on them. The players must also be feeling the heat, as the last two-three months have been extremely tough for the Indian team. After losing the home Test series against New Zealand, they also lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. That was red-ball cricket, and now the action shifts to white-ball cricket.
This series against England marks the beginning of India’s countdown to the Champions Trophy, and with it comes mounting pressure, especially on seniors like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, whose form with the bat has been the talk of the town.
When Rohit faced the media on the eve of the match, he was quick to dismiss concerns about his recent failures with the bat. “What kind of question is that?” he responded. “This is a different format, a different time. As cricketers, we know there will be ups and downs. I have faced plenty in my career, so this is nothing new. Every day is a fresh start, and every series is a fresh challenge.”
Clearly, the skipper was not pleased with the question. He is focused on starting fresh. The Nagpur ODI will be India’s first home game since the 2023 World Cup final and their first ODI since the loss to Sri Lanka in August last year. This series carries weight for multiple reasons. With some players returning from injury and others struggling for form, India will need to regroup quickly. Securing a series win becomes crucial, as they gear up for bigger challenges in the Champions Trophy starting on February 19.
“The guys know exactly what is expected of them,” Rohit said. “It is just about coming together now because it has been a while since we played this format. We need to pick up where we left off during the World Cup.”
Varun Chakravarthy has been added to the squad as India look to fine-tune their combination. With Jasprit Bumrah’s availability uncertain, Varun has an opportunity to make a strong case for himself before the final squad selection.
“Yeah, look, he (Varun) has certainly shown something different,” Rohit said. “I understand that it was in the T20 format, but he clearly has something special. We wanted to have that option and see what he can bring to the team. If things go well and he delivers what is required, then he’s definitely someone we need to consider.”
When it comes to selection, the choice between KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant will be a tough one. While Rohit acknowledged both as match-winners, he hinted that the team might lean towards Rahul for the sake of “continuity.”
“Both are capable of winning games on their own,” Rohit stated. “It is a good problem to have, whether to play KL or Rishabh. But looking at what we have done in the past, maintaining continuity is also very important. That is where we stand as a team with KL and Rishabh.”
Meanwhile, uncertainty looms over Bumrah’s availability for the third ODI and the Champions Trophy. Like everyone else, Rohit is also waiting for an official update on his fitness.
“Obviously, we are waiting on some updates about his scan, which is due in the next few days,” Rohit said when asked about Bumrah’s condition. “Once we get that, we will have more clarity on where he stands.”
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