IND vs ENG 1st ODI: 'Wasn't Supposed to Play' - Shreyas Iyer Reveals Late-Night Call Saw Him Replace Virat Kohli

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Shreyas Iyer has revealed he would not have featured in the Indian playing 11 in the first ODI against England in Nagpur, and only got the chance due to an unfortunate injury to star batter Virat Kohli.

A sore right knee forced Kohli out of the series opener at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium on Thursday (February 6). Many would have felt that Yashasvi Jaiswal was handed his debut, replacing Kohli. But that doesn't seem to be the case.

Iyer, who has been India's answer to the problematic position in the batting order and the mainstay No. 4 in the ODI format for the past couple of years, would have been the one sitting out had Kohli been fit to play at least in the series opener.

Batting at number 4 in the 2023 ODI World Cup, Iyer finished as India's second-highest run-getter with 530 runs at 66.25, with a strike rate of 113.24, laced with two centuries and three fifties.

The 30-year-old once again showcased his ability at number four on Thursday (February 6) when he smashed a 36-ball 59 to help dig India out of a hole after the home side lost openers Jaiswal and skipper Rohit Sharma inside the powerplay.

His knock along with fifties from Shubman Gill (87 off 96 balls) and Axar Patel (52 off 47 balls) ensured India chased down 249 with 11.2 overs to spare and four wickets in hand.

While he played a match-winning knock, Shreyas shockingly revealed he would not have even featured in the team for the opener in a post-match chat with former cricketers Kevin Pietersen and Parthiv Patel.

"I wasn't supposed to play the first game. As we all know, Virat unfortunately got injured and then I got the opportunity. But I had kept myself prepared. I knew that, you know, at any point in time, I could get a chance to play. And the same thing happened to me last year during the Asia Cup. I got injured, and someone else came, and he scored a century," Iyer said on Star Sports.

"It's actually a funny story. I was watching the movie last night. I thought that I could extend my nighttime. Then I got a call from the skipper saying that I may play because Virat has got a swollen knee, and I hurried back to my room and went off to sleep straight. So we didn't know that."

There is still no clarity on Kohli's participation in the second ODI, but Shreyas Iyer has surely made a case for his inclusion in the playing 11 when Team India take the field on Sunday (February 9) in Cuttack.