The Indian cricket team fans have been handed a huge jolt as veteran Indian batsman and superstar cricketer Virat Kohli has been ruled out of the upcoming three-match ODI series.
The IND vs AFG ODI series will be played right after the one-off Test match. The India vs Afghanistan ODIs are scheduled for June 13, 17, and 20 in Dharamsala, Lucknow, and Chennai.
With Kohli and Rohit retired from both Tests and T20Is, the fans have waited excitedly for any ODI series that India has played in the past year.
Kohli and Rohit recently starred in the IPL 2026 season, where Kohli helped RCB lift a second consecutive IPL trophy.
Kohli was in supreme touch during RCB’s run to the title. He finished as RCB’s leading run-scorer and fourth overall, amassing 675 runs at an average of 56 and a strike rate of 165 and recording one hundred and five half-centuries.
He produced a Man of the Match-worthy show in the final against Gujarat Titans, smashing 75* and hitting the final winning sixer. But, in the final, Kohli sustained an injury that will force him to miss the Afghanistan ODI series.
The BCCI has named a young Rajasthan Royals opener as Kohli’s replacement.
IND vs AFG: Who has replaced Virat Kohli in the ODI squad against Afghanistan?
Kohli has been ruled out of the ODI series against Afghanistan due to a hamstring injury that he suffered in the IPL final. The BCCI has named Yashasvi Jaiswal as Kohli’s replacement.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar hinted optimism at Kohli’s fitness, suggesting that he might feature in the ODI series against England, which is scheduled to start on July 14.
Agarkar said, “It’s just less than a week since he injured himself in the IPL final. Don’t know the timelines yet; it looks like he might be fit for England ODIs. Not a definitive squad; don’t have a timeline from the physio yet.”
Jaiswal has featured in only four ODIs so far in his career. In his last ODI match against South Africa in Vizag last December, the left-hander pounded a match-winning century.
Meanwhile, Rohit is also recovering from a hamstring issue that he picked up during the IPL. Rohit missed some matches for MI and was used as an Impact Player in MI’s last five games. Rohit is reported to fly out to Bengaluru for rehab and fitness tests at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) ahead of the ODI series against Afghanistan.
Get the Latest Cricket Updates at IceCric.News. Also, Follow Our Social Media for live updates on Facebook and Instagram.
