Virat Kohli Ruled Out of Afghanistan ODIs Due to Injury
India faces a significant setback just ahead of their ODI series against Afghanistan, as star player Virat Kohli has been sidelined due to a hamstring injury. The series, which includes three matches, is set to kick off on June 13 and run until June 20.
Kohli made a vital contribution in the IPL 2026 final, helping Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) secure a thrilling victory over the Gujarat Titans. He scored an impressive 75 runs off just 42 balls, leading RCB to a five-wicket win in Ahmedabad. However, he appeared to struggle with his running during the final moments of the game, although he managed to finish strong. Over the course of the IPL, Kohli scored a remarkable 675 runs in 16 matches, with an average of 56.25 and a strike rate of 165.85. The full extent of his injury is still unclear.
This injury comes at a crucial time as Kohli aimed to maintain his good form heading into the series against Afghanistan, especially with his sights set on the ODI World Cup in 2027. He had an outstanding performance in 2025, being India’s top scorer with 651 runs from 13 matches, which included three centuries and four half-centuries.
Kohli carried this form into 2026 as well, scoring 240 runs in a three-match series against New Zealand, which featured one century and one fifty. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not yet announced a replacement for Kohli for the upcoming series. Meanwhile, there are also questions regarding his availability for the tour of England, where India will play three ODIs from July 14 to July 19.
India has announced a strong lineup for the ODI series against Afghanistan. However, the participation of Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya will depend on their fitness after the IPL season.
India’s ODI Squad for Afghanistan Series
- Shubman Gill (Captain)
- Rohit Sharma
- Shreyas Iyer (Vice-Captain)
- KL Rahul (Wicket-Keeper)
- Ishan Kishan (Wicket-Keeper)
- Hardik Pandya
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Washington Sundar
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Arshdeep Singh
- Prasidh Krishna
- Prince Yadav
- Gurnoor Brar
- Harsh Dubey
Stay tuned for updates on Kohli’s recovery and the upcoming series.
