By AP Kanungo

Bhubaneswar

With the highly anticipated second ODI between India and England set for February 9 at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, Indian cricketers Varun Chakravarthy, Washington Sundar, and Axar Patel visited the revered Puri Sri Mandir on Saturday to seek Lord Jagannath’s blessings ahead of the crucial encounter.

The trio undertook a spiritual journey to Puri, traveling to Sri Mandir in an e-auto under police escort to ensure a smooth and secure visit. After offering prayers, they were honored with the sacred Patitapabana Bana by members of the Puri Temple Administration as a mark of divine grace. Expressing his gratitude, all-rounder Washington Sundar shared a brief yet heartfelt reaction: “The darshan was very good, thank you.”

As Team India intensifies its preparations, the squad is set to train under floodlights at Barabati Stadium in the evening. Meanwhile, the England team has opted to skip practice and will not hold a pre-match press conference today.

India currently leads the three-match ODI series 1-0, following a commanding victory in the first game at Nagpur, where stellar performances from Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, and Axar Patel secured a comprehensive win. With the series on the line, Sunday’s second ODI promises to be an electrifying contest—India will aim to clinch the series, while England fights to keep it alive.

On Saturday, Team India conducted a net practice session at Barabati Stadium in preparation for the upcoming clash. In contrast, several members of the England squad, including captain Jos Buttler, chose a more relaxed approach, heading to Bhubaneswar Golf Club for a session of golf after arriving in the state capital.

Sources reported that players such as Liam Livingstone, Harry Brook, Joe Root, Ben Duckett, Matthew Short, and Craig Overton accompanied Buttler for the golf outing. The visiting cricketers appeared to enjoy the serene ambiance and world-class facilities of the golf course during their nearly two-hour session.

Notably, Team England did not hold a practice session at Barabati Stadium on Saturday, whereas Team India made full use of the afternoon for net practice.