India middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer has revealed a "funny story" regarding his selection in the playing XI for the the first ODI against England in Nagpur, which India won by four wickets and 68 balls remaing to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. After the game, Iyer stated that he recieved a call from skipper Rohit Sharma the night before the game when he was watching a movie, which he had to cut short after learning the possibility of his inclusion in the team for the ODI series opener.

Iyer also talked about how he was replaced in the Asia Cup as well due to a batter who scored a century in the tournament. Meanwhile, India managed to finish the first ODI against England with a win but there were some surprising inclusions in the playing XI. One of those was Yashasvi Jaiswal making his debut and  missing out due to a sore knee.

Though it looked like it was Jaiswal who replaced Kohli, Iyer revealed after the game that it was he who was supposed to miss the first ODI. 

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“As you all know I wasn’t supposed to play today. Virat unfortunately got injured and then I got the opportunity. I kept myself prepared. I knew that at any point of time, I can get a chance to play. The same thing happened with me last year as well during the Asia Cup. I got injured and someone else came in and scored a century,” Iyer told Star Sports.

“So, funny story, I was watching a movie last night, I thought I could extend my night, but then I got a call from the skipper (Rohit Sharma) saying that you may play because Virat has got a swollen knee. I went back to my room and went off to sleep straight away,” he added. 

Meanwhile, the decision to include Iyer paid off as he came into bat when the team was in trouble at 19/2 and built an important partnership with Shubman Gill. Iyer scored 59 off 36 with nine fours and two massive sixes, striking at 163.88. He was dismissed by Jacob Bethell in the 16th over.