Virat Kohli Excluded from Afghanistan ODI Series Due to Hamstring Injury

Virat Kohli has been ruled out of the ODI series against Afghanistan due to a hamstring injury, as confirmed by BCCI sources. The series, starting June 13, follows a one-off Test match. Kohli's recent IPL performance was impressive, making him RCB's top scorer. With a remarkable ODI career, he ranks second in all-time runs. His recent form has been exceptional, contributing significantly to India's success. This article delves into Kohli's injury, his batting achievements, and what this means for the upcoming matches.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 4, 2026, 12:07 IST

Kohli's Injury Forces Him Out of Afghanistan ODI Series

Prominent Indian cricketer Virat Kohli will miss the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan due to a hamstring injury, as reported by sources from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Kohli appeared to be in discomfort while sprinting during the concluding moments of the Indian Premier League (IPL) final against the Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad, yet he managed to guide the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to a challenging 156-run target with an impressive 75 runs off 42 balls.

Details of the ODI Series

The ODI series featuring Afghanistan will comprise three matches, commencing on June 13, following a one-off Test match between the two teams in New Chandigarh. Although Rohit Sharma, the former captain, is part of the ODI squad, his participation remains uncertain and is contingent on his fitness.

Kohli's Remarkable Batting Achievements

Kohli concluded the IPL season as the fourth-highest run-scorer, leading RCB with a total of 675 runs across 16 innings, boasting an average of 56.25 and a strike rate of 165.84. His performance included one century and five half-centuries, with a top score of 105*.

ODI Career Statistics

At 37 years old, Kohli is regarded as one of the finest ODI batsmen in history, ranking second in all-time runs with 14,797 runs from 299 innings, averaging 58.71. He has achieved 54 centuries—the highest by any player—and 77 fifties, with his best score being 183.

Kohli has transitioned to being an ODI-exclusive player, having retired from T20 internationals after India's T20 World Cup victory in 2024 and from Test cricket in May of the previous year, prior to the 2025-27 ICC World Test Championship cycle.

Recent ODI Performance

In the past year, Kohli has amassed 891 runs in 16 matches, averaging 68.53 with a strike rate of 98.45, including four centuries and five fifties, with a highest score of 135. He played a pivotal role in securing India's ICC Champions Trophy title last year.

Since the Australia tour last year, marking his shift to being an ODI-exclusive player, he has scored 616 runs in nine matches, averaging 88 with a strike rate of 106.39, featuring three centuries and three fifties.

In his latest ODI performance against New Zealand earlier this year, Kohli was the top scorer for India, accumulating 240 runs in three matches at an average of 80.00, including one century and one fifty.