Nagpur, Feb 6 (Reporter) Star batsman Virat Kohli was ruled out of the first ODI against England due to a knee issue, as India began their 50-over campaign post the 2023 World Cup with a fresh-look squad. England won the toss and elected to bat first at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Thursday. India handed ODI debuts to Yashasvi Jaiswal and Harshit Rana, signalling a new phase in their white-ball strategy. Skipper Rohit Sharma confirmed Kohli’s absence, stating that while the team would have preferred to bowl first, they were prepared to start aggressively with the ball. "It's important to get some game time and maximize opportunities. Jaiswal and Harshit are making their debuts, and we are looking forward to a good contest," Rohit said. England captain Jos Buttler expressed confidence in his team’s decision to bat first, highlighting the return of Joe Root to the ODI setup. "We’re playing against a top team in their conditions, which is a great challenge ahead of the Champions Trophy," Buttler said. The pitch report suggested a batting-friendly red-soil surface with some assistance for spinners later in the match. With a 69m and 68m square boundary, along with a 75m straight boundary, experts predict a high-scoring encounter. Dew could play a role in the second innings. England named a pace-heavy attack, with Jofra Archer, Saqib Mahmood, and Brydon Carse leading the seam attack, supported by Adil Rashid and Liam Livingstone in the spin department. India, meanwhile, opted for three spinners—Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav—alongside pacers Mohammed Shami and debutant Harshit Rana. England’s playing XI: Ben Duckett, Philip Salt (wk), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c), Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood. India’s playing XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami. The match is set to begin shortly, with India aiming to make a strong start despite Kohli’s absence...////...