Virat Kohli Ruled Out of Afghanistan ODI Series After Injury Blow
India have suffered a major setback with Virat Kohli ruled out of the Afghanistan ODI series. The injury comes shortly after his match-winning performances in the IPL.
June 04, 2026: Virat Kohli will not be seen in India's colours for the time being after being ruled out of the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan due to a hamstring injury. The star batter, who recently won his second IPL title and was named Player of the Match in the final, has been forced to miss the series because of the setback.
India are scheduled to face Afghanistan in a three-match ODI series from June 13 to June 20. However, Kohli will not be available for selection. It remains unclear whether the injury occurred during the IPL season or while preparing for the upcoming international assignment.
The timing comes as a major disappointment for both Kohli and the Indian team, especially considering the veteran batter's outstanding form. Kohli enjoyed an excellent IPL campaign, scoring 675 runs in 16 matches at an average of 56.25 and a strike rate of 165.85. He capped off the tournament with an unbeaten 75 off just 42 balls in the final, playing a key role in his team's title-winning campaign.
Injury Concerns Grow Ahead of Busy ODI Schedule
Kohli had hoped to carry his impressive IPL form into the Afghanistan series, but the injury has put those plans on hold. He is not the only senior player facing fitness concerns ahead of the series.
Earlier reports suggested that Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya would need clearance from the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru before being declared available for selection. Their participation remains uncertain, and Kohli's injury has now added another significant concern for the Indian team management.
Following his retirement from T20 Internationals and Test cricket, Kohli is currently focused exclusively on the ODI format. The former India captain has reportedly set his sights on ending his international career after the 2027 ODI World Cup, making every series leading up to the tournament crucial.
Kohli enjoyed a remarkable 2025 season, scoring 651 runs in 13 ODI matches, including three centuries and four half-centuries. He has continued that rich vein of form in 2026 as well. During India's recent three-match ODI series against New Zealand, Kohli amassed 240 runs, including a century and a half-century.
The BCCI has not yet announced a replacement for Kohli in the Afghanistan squad. There are also concerns over whether he will recover in time for India's subsequent ODI series against England, scheduled to be played from July 14 to July 19.
India's ODI Squad for Afghanistan Series
Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer (Vice-Captain), Lokesh Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnur Brar and Harsh Dubey.