After Virat Kohli dropped, India’s Shreyas Iyer puts up a show vs England
India’s Shreyas Iyer in action during First One Day International at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur, India. Reuters
NAGPUR: (Web Desk) India’s middle order batter Shreyas Iyer 59 off 36 balls set up his side’s comfortable chase of 249 against England in the one-day series opener.

In the fixture, the hosts completed the chase inside 39 overs to go 1-0 up in the three-match series.

The previous evening, a call from captain Rohit Sharma informed Iyer he would be playing the series opener as Virat Kohli had been laid low by a knee niggle.

"I was watching a movie last night, I thought I could extend my night, but then I got a call from skipper saying that you may play because Virat has got a swollen knee," Iyer told broadcaster Star Sports after India s four-wicket victory.

"And then (I) hurried back to my room, went off to sleep straightaway."

Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal made his ODI debut in the match partnering Rohit at the top of the batting order.

Dropping down to number three to accommodate Jaiswal, Shubman Gill smashed 87, which earned him the player-of-the-match.

India appear keen to play Jaiswal as the lone left-handed batter in their top four for the Champions Trophy later this month.

The makeup of India s batting lineup when Kohli returns for the second ODI against England on Sunday remains unclear.

India will begin their Champions Trophy campaign against neighbours Bangladesh in Dubai on Feb. 20.