In a major setback for the Indian cricket team, star batter Virat Kohli has been ruled out of the upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan.
The development comes shortly after Kohli’s impressive performance in IPL 2026, where he played a key role in helping Royal Challengers Bengaluru lift the title.
Why is Virat Kohli Ruled Out of Afghanistan ODIs?
According to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Kohli sustained a hamstring injury during the IPL final on May 31 in Ahmedabad.
While batting, he felt discomfort in his right hamstring and continued his innings with heavy taping, scoring an unbeaten 75. Post-match medical scans confirmed the injury, forcing him to miss the ODI series scheduled to begin on June 13 in Dharamsala.
Kohli was in outstanding form throughout the IPL, amassing over 650 runs with multiple centuries and fifties. His absence is keenly felt as fans were eagerly awaiting his pursuit of a landmark 50th ODI century in this series his return to international white-ball cricket.
This injury also raises questions about India’s preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup. Rohit Sharma’s fitness remains a concern after he missed several IPL matches, putting additional pressure on the selectors. The BCCI is expected to name a replacement soon, with Ruturaj Gaikwad among the strong contenders.
Young talents like Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal will now shoulder greater responsibility in the batting lineup. Kohli is currently on a holiday in Europe as he begins his recovery process. The exact return timeline is not yet known, but the focus is on carefully managing the workload of senior players after a gruelling IPL season.
Afghanistan will face a slightly weakened Indian side, though the hosts remain strong favourites with a deep bench strength. Team India will use the series to test bench strength and build momentum in home conditions.