The star has been making good headway with his recovery, which is why we’re looking at an ODI return in England from July 14 to 19. Now that he’s in rehab and a BCCI evaluation is just around the corner, the selectors are putting the squad in order. All part of the run-up to next year’s ODI World Cup.
He was out of the Afghanistan ODIs with the injury, but India are 2-0 up and in with a chance of a clean sweep. Having him back would only harden Shubman Gill’s unit for what’s a tougher test on the road, with three games in the books for Birmingham, Cardiff and Lord’s.
Why it’s important to have him back
Kohli has left the Test and T20I scene, so ODIs are where you’ll see him for India now. The last time he was in the crease was in Indore on 18 January versus New Zealand. He put in some big numbers in that home series – 240 runs at an 80 average and a 105.26 strike rate to top the charts.
When you’re 37, that kind of know-how and form is worth its weight in gold. For a side with a global event on the horizon, he’s the one who can give you runs and a level head when things get tight.
How the rehab is going
According to someone in the know, the injury is mending well and he’s started on the rehabilitation. He should be in for an assessment and to be given the all-clear at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in the near future. If everything goes to plan, he’ll be with us for the England tour.
He’s been in touch with Dr Dinshaw Pardiwalla, the BCCI’s orthopaedic surgeon in Mumbai. We even saw some pictures of him in London with Jordon Cox not long before the 25-year-old was put in the England side for the second Test with New Zealand at The Oval.
What the selection says
We won’t have to wait long for the ODI list. Devajit Saikia, the BCCI secretary, has put the word out that the committee will sit down in the next few days to choose the team for England. You can expect the names by the end of the week.
Ajit Agarkar, the chief selector, made no bones about the possibility of an England appearance. He pointed out the injury was less than a week old after the final and while the physio didn’t give a hard date, it seemed like he could be ready for the one-dayers.
Form and the injury in question
The trouble with his hamstring happened in the IPL final when he made an unbroken 75 from 42. It was the kind of knock that got RCB over the line in a 156 chase of the Titans and put a second straight title in the trophy cabinet. You could tell his white-ball game was still there.
With him out, Yashasvi Jaiswal was brought in for the Afghanistan series. India have already put a 2-0 lead in the bank and are on course to finish the job at home.
What’s ahead
It comes down to two things: being cleared by the medics and then being picked. The England ODIs will be a good measure for Gill and co. as the World Cup looms. Here is what to keep an eye on:
– A fitness review at the BCCI Centre of Excellence
– The selection committee’s meeting in the coming days
– The three ODIs in Birmingham, Cardiff and Lord’s (July 14-19)
Should the rehab hold up, India get their number one ODI man back when they need him. Judging by what he’s done in Indore and in the IPL, he’s coming back to set the tone for the summer, not to fill in.
