Nagpur/IBNS: Shreyas Iyer played a crucial role beside Shubman Gill's heroics in India's comfortable victory over England in the first One Day International (ODI) in Nagpur on Thursday.

In a match where star batter Virat Kohli was missing, Iyer came out to bat at a challenging time when the home team were struggling at 19-2.

Contrary to what was widely assumed, it was Iyer who replaced Kohli who missed the first ODI due to a sore knee.

Though it was assumed that Yashasvi Jaiswal, who made his ODI debut on Thursday, replaced Kohli, Iyer revealed a different story.

Speaking in the post-match presser, Iyer said, "So [a] 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 saying that 'you may play because Virat has got a swollen knee'. And then hurried back to my room, went off to sleep straight away."

Chasing 249, India lost early wickets in the form of Yashasvi Jaiswal (15) and skipper Rohit Sharma (2) but Gill (87 from 96 balls) was joined by Shreyas Iyer, who counter-attacked the English bowlers to stitch a partnership of 94 runs.

Iyer slammed a quick 59 from only 36 balls (9 fours and 2 sixes) until he was dismissed leg before wicket by Jacob Bethell.

Gill was then joined by allrounder Axar Patel, who followed Iyer's footsteps in slamming an aggressive 52 from 47 balls.