Can Kohli recreate old magic at batting-friendly Cuttack?

Kohli scored a match-winning half century against West Indies, when he last played an ODI at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack in 2019.

Star batter Virat Kohli took center stage on the eve of the second ODI against England, batting for nearly an hour in the nets and putting to rest any doubts about the knee injury that had ruled him out in Nagpur.

Kohli arrived quietly, went through his warm-up routine, and headed straight to the nets, kit bag slung over his shoulder.

Once there, he was in full flow, confidently taking on Odisha Cricket Association net bowlers alongside his Indian teammates.

His timing was exquisite, and his intensity unwavering as he continued to bat relentlessly for nearly an hour, much to the delight of a packed crowd that chanted 'Kohli, Kohli'.

The sight of Kohli dominating the nets was a reassuring one for Indian fans, especially after his struggles in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, where he was repeatedly dismissed by edging to the slip cordon.

Kohli had scored a match-winning half century against West Indies, when he last played an ODI the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack in 2019.

Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak may have remained tight-lipped about whom Kohli would replace, but all signs pointed toward Shreyas Iyer potentially missing out despite his match-winning 36-ball 59 in India's four-wicket victory in Nagpur.

Iyer was notably absent from the optional practice session, along with several key first-choice players, including Shubman Gill, Mohammed Shami, Hardik Pandya, and Harshit Rana.

With the Gautam Gambhir-led think tank favoring a left-right opening combination, debutant Yashasvi Jaiswal is likely to retain his place at the top alongside skipper Rohit Sharma, pushing Kohli to No. 4.

While Kohli looked in sublime touch, Rohit Sharma had a rough outing at the nets, getting cleaned up twice by local OCA net bowlers -- hardly an encouraging sight for the Indian skipper.

Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant, who is not India's first-choice wicketkeeper in ODIs, was also seen batting for an extended period, much to the crowd's delight.

Cuttack, starved of international cricket, turned up in full force for the practice session and it resembled a real match.

"I think it's a great atmosphere. I have just seen the ground and the public is there, the crowd is there. It looks like a match day," agreed Kotak.

The stadium last hosted a T20I against South Africa in 2022, while the last ODI here dates back more than five years.

With the OCA allowing free entry for spectators, fans began queuing up outside the stadium from the afternoon.

By the time Rohit and Co arrived, over 20,000 people had packed the stands, especially in the galleries near the nets, eager to catch a glimpse of their cricketing heroes.

England, meanwhile, opted for a rest day and did not turn up for practice.

It may be hosting an ODI for the first time since December 22, 2019, but Cuttack has always served up belters and it may be no different this time.

While India chased down West Indies' 316 in under 49 overs in 2019, in 2017 the home side had piled 381/6 against England before restricting the opposition to 366/8.

The venue witnessed another 350-plus total in 2014 when India posted 363/5 against Sri Lanka who had folded for 194.

The last low-scoring tie at this venue was in 2011 when West Indies made 211/9 before India reached home inside 49 overs.