England cricketers Adil Rashid and Phil Salt were left stunned after Virat Kohli survived a close LBW appeal during the third ODI against India. However, Liam Livingstone, Kohli’s future Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) teammate in IPL 2025, took a lighter approach, sharing a playful moment with the Indian batter.
England captain Jos Buttler won the toss and chose to field first at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on February 12. The visitors made an early breakthrough when Mark Wood dismissed Rohit Sharma for just one run, a major contrast to his century in the previous match. With India losing their captain in the second over, Virat Kohli walked in to join Shubman Gill at the crease.
Despite early pressure from England’s pace attack, Kohli and Gill steadied the innings. The duo built a solid partnership, mixing boundaries with quick singles to keep the scoreboard moving. The drama unfolded in the 15th over when Adil Rashid bowled a full delivery that struck Kohli’s pads. After a brief discussion, Buttler, Rashid, and Salt opted for a review.
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Replays confirmed that Kohli had no contact with the bat, but ball-tracking showed the ball pitching just outside leg stump. England lost their review, and a relieved Kohli continued his innings. Salt and Rashid were visibly frustrated, while Kohli, always one to enjoy on-field moments, exchanged a playful shoulder bump with Livingstone, his IPL teammate-to-be.
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At the time of the review, Kohli was batting on 38. He soon reached his 73rd ODI half-century in just 50 balls, guiding the ball through point for a single. However, his innings ended shortly after as Rashid got his revenge in the very next over. Kohli, looking well-set for a big score, was dismissed for 52 off 55 balls, caught by Salt. The former Indian captain showed clear disappointment at not converting his start into a century, especially with the ICC Champions Trophy on the horizon.
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As of the latest update, India stands at 161/2 in 25 overs, with Gill unbeaten on 85 off 78 balls and Shreyas Iyer on 15 off 15. With a solid platform set, the hosts will be aiming to post a competitive total against England.
