Why is Virat Kohli out of the ODI series against Afghanistan and how serious is his injury? Why is Ruturaj Gaikwad’s name in discussion to replace Kohli in the Indian team? Why are the chances of Sanju Samson getting a chance considered less?
Mumbai: Virat Kohli has been ruled out of the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan starting next week. Due to injury, Kohli will not be able to play this series, after which the discussion has intensified about who will replace him. Earlier there were reports that Malayalam star Sanju Samson could be included in the team in place of Kohli. But now according to new reports, the team already has two wicketkeepers in the form of KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan, so the possibility of including a third wicketkeeper-batsman is less.
In such a situation, it is now believed that in place of Kohli, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain Ruturaj Gaikwad can be given a chance in the ODI team. Gaikwad is currently a part of the India ‘A’ team going on the Sri Lanka tour. If he is promoted to the senior team, then Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Rajat Patidar can be included in the India ‘A’ team in his place. Let us tell you that India ‘A’ team is going to play a triangular series in Sri Lanka, in which Afghanistan will also participate.
Virat Kohli suffered the injury while scoring the winning runs against Gujarat Titans in the IPL final. BCCI sources have told news agency PTI that doctors have advised Kohli to take complete rest for two weeks. Kohli was in great form in this IPL. He had scored 675 runs with the help of one century and five half-centuries. After retiring from Test cricket last year, Kohli is playing only ODI format.
The first ODI match against Afghanistan will be played on June 13 in Dharamshala. The second match will be held on June 17 in Lucknow and the third on June 20 in Chennai. After this series, the Indian team will also play a three-match ODI series against England from July 14.
India’s ODI team: Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), K.L. Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey.