Shreyas Iyer wasn’t supposed to play the first ODI against England in Nagpur. He was all set to start the series on the bench, but a late-night call from skipper Rohit Sharma changed everything.

"Funny story—I was watching a movie last night, thinking I could extend my night. But then I got a call from the skipper saying, ‘You may play because Virat has got a swollen knee.’ I hurried back to my room and went off to sleep straight away," Iyer revealed after the match.

The twist in India’s playing XI came after Virat Kohli was ruled out due to a swollen right knee. Rohit confirmed the news at the toss, leaving fans surprised. With Kohli out, Yashasvi Jaiswal received his maiden ODI cap, which many assumed was a direct result of Virat’s absence. However, Iyer suggested otherwise.

"You know what you want me to say, but I'm going to keep it low-key and cherish this moment—the victory today," he said when asked if Jaiswal had originally been preferred over him in the XI.

Jaiswal’s inclusion led to a reshuffle in the batting order, breaking up the usual opening pair of Rohit and Shubman Gill. Jaiswal opened alongside Gill, pushing the latter down to No. 3—a position that may not be permanent if Virat returns.

Despite the last-minute change, Iyer made a significant impact. His blistering 59 off 36 balls turned the game in India’s favour after the early dismissals of Rohit and Jaiswal.

India, chasing 249, secured a comfortable four-wicket win. Shubman Gill led the charge with a solid 87 off 96, while Axar Patel contributed 52 off 47. On the bowling front, Ravindra Jadeja and debutant Harshit Rana picked up three wickets each as India bowled out England for 248.

Iyer has long established himself as India’s go-to No. 4 in ODIs, playing a key role in their run to the 2023 World Cup final. He amassed 468 runs in the tournament at an impressive average of 66.25, including two centuries—one of them a match-defining 105 off 70 balls in the semi-final against New Zealand.

With the Champions Trophy approaching, India’s combination for the tournament remains uncertain. Jaiswal’s left-handed presence adds a new dimension to the batting lineup, but whether Iyer retains his spot when Kohli returns remains to be seen.

The remaining two ODIs in the series will offer further clarity on India’s strategy before their Champions Trophy opener against Bangladesh on February 20 in Dubai.