Virat Kohli gifts Anshul Kamboj ODI cap 266 ahead of 3rd ODI vs West Indies
Synopsis
Virat Kohli handed Anshul Kamboj ODI Cap 266 with a direct message — 'believe in yourself' — before the series-deciding third ODI in New Chandigarh. Called up as an injury replacement for Prasidh Krishna, Kamboj becomes one of India's rare multi-format players, having already played Test cricket against England in Manchester.
Key Takeaways
Anshul Kamboj received ODI Cap No.
266 from Virat Kohli ahead of the 3rd ODI vs West Indies on 3 October 2025 at New Chandigarh .
Kamboj was called up as a replacement for Prasidh Krishna , who suffered a left hamstring injury during the 2nd ODI in Guwahati .
He was pulled from India A 's four-day match against Australia A in Puducherry to join the senior squad.
Kamboj had previously represented India in Test cricket , including the Manchester Test vs England .
Kohli praised Kamboj's 'consistency and clarity of thought' and his ability to restrict batters in IPL conditions.
Fast bowler Anshul Kamboj received his debut ODI cap — Cap No. 266 — from Virat Kohli ahead of the third ODI against West Indies at the New PCA Stadium, New Chandigarh on 3 October 2025, becoming the latest Indian cricketer to earn multi-format status. Kohli urged the young pacer to back himself, drawing on Kamboj's domestic consistency and IPL performances.
Kohli's Words in the Huddle
In a video shared on the BCCI's official social media accounts, Kohli addressed Kamboj during the team huddle with a message that combined praise and motivation. 'Anshul, big congratulations to you, Cap 266. We know you already played Test cricket for India. The reason is that, because of your consistency and clarity of thought, you got the opportunity to represent India in the whites, which is the greatest honour. But very few people get to become multi-format players,' Kohli said.
He added: 'So another proud moment for you and your family. I just mentioned you have the skill sets; we've all seen that in the IPL with white ball cricket, the clarity with which you bowl and the areas that you bowl make it very difficult for batsmen to go after you. So believe in yourself in the same way; we'll all back you, and congratulations and a very proud moment for you.'
Why Kamboj Was Called Up
The Karnal-based cricketer, who represents Haryana in domestic cricket, was drafted into the squad on Friday after fast bowler Prasidh Krishna was ruled out due to a left hamstring injury sustained during the second ODI in Guwahati. Kamboj was pulled out of India A's second four-day match against Australia A in Puducherry to join the senior side — a last-minute call that underscores the selectors' confidence in him.
Kamboj's Road to the Senior Team
Kamboj is no stranger to India colours, having already featured in Test cricket — most notably in the Manchester Test against England last year. His ODI debut now makes him one of the few players to have represented India across both formats at this stage of their career. He built his reputation through consistent performances for Haryana in domestic circuits and impressed observers with his disciplined line-and-length bowling in the IPL, where his ability to restrict batters in pressure situations caught national selectors' attention.
Kamboj Reacts to His Debut
'Obviously, it's a dream of a player to play for his national team. So I'm feeling quite good, and I'm just looking to make sure that I play a good level of cricket,' Kamboj said after receiving the cap. His composed response reflected the clarity Kohli had specifically praised — a trait that has defined his rise through the domestic ranks.
What to Watch
With Prasidh Krishna sidelined, Kamboj steps into a key role in India's pace attack for the series decider. His debut outing at the New PCA Stadium will be closely watched as a barometer of whether India's domestic pipeline continues to deliver ready-made Test-grade pacers for white-ball cricket as well.
Point of View
Referencing IPL data points and domestic consistency. That reflects a broader cultural shift in how the senior dressing room communicates with debutants — performance-specific, not platitude-heavy. Whether Kamboj can translate that clarity into a white-ball impact in a series decider is the question this debut must answer.
NationPress
3 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Anshul Kamboj and why did he make his ODI debut?
Anshul Kamboj is a fast bowler from Karnal who plays domestic cricket for Haryana. He earned his ODI debut on 3 October 2025 as a replacement for Prasidh Krishna, who was ruled out of the third ODI against West Indies with a left hamstring injury.
What did Virat Kohli say while presenting Anshul Kamboj his ODI cap?
Kohli praised Kamboj's consistency, clarity of thought, and IPL performances, telling him: 'Believe in yourself in the same way; we'll all back you.' He also noted that very few players achieve multi-format status and called it a proud moment for Kamboj and his family.
What is Anshul Kamboj's cap number in ODI cricket?
Anshul Kamboj is India's 266th ODI cricketer, making him Cap No. 266 in the 50-over format. He had previously represented India in Test cricket, including the Manchester Test against England.
Why was Prasidh Krishna ruled out of the third ODI?
Prasidh Krishna sustained a left hamstring injury during the second ODI against West Indies in Guwahati and was subsequently ruled out of the remainder of the series. Kamboj was drafted in from India A's four-day match against Australia A in Puducherry as his replacement.
Where is the third ODI between India and West Indies being played?
The third and deciding ODI is being played at the New PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh on 3 October 2025.
