India's ODI Series Against Afghanistan: Kohli's Absence and Team Performance

India is currently leading the ODI series against Afghanistan 2-0, but the absence of star player Virat Kohli due to a hamstring injury has raised questions. Kohli's injury occurred during the IPL 2026 final, leading to his withdrawal from the series. In his place, Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill have stepped up, with both players scoring centuries in the second ODI. As the series progresses, the Indian team looks to maintain its momentum in the final match scheduled in Chennai. Discover more about the team's performance and Kohli's situation in this detailed overview.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 18, 2026, 22:14 IST

Kohli's Injury and Team Adjustments

Virat Kohli is currently missing from the ODI series against Afghanistan due to a hamstring injury sustained during the IPL 2026 final. Although he was initially included in the squad, he had to withdraw. In his absence, Ishan Kishan took the number 3 batting position in the first ODI, which was limited to 25 overs per side, while Shubman Gill filled that role in the second match. The Indian team has experimented with two players at this position, and further changes could be made for the upcoming third game.

Kohli's injury became evident as he struggled to run effectively towards the end of his innings, relying heavily on boundary hitting. He finished with an impressive 75 runs off 42 balls, helping Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) successfully chase a target of 156 against Gujarat Titans (GT), hitting 3 sixes and 9 fours. Shortly after the IPL final, he was ruled out of the India-Afghanistan ODI series, leading to Yashasvi Jaiswal being called up as his replacement. However, Jaiswal's performance was underwhelming, as he was dismissed for just 4 runs off 9 balls in the second ODI.

India's Dominance in the Series

India Leads the Series 2-0

Currently, India is leading the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan with a score of 2-0. In the first ODI, the Indian bowlers restricted Afghanistan to 194 runs, successfully chasing the target in just 22.5 overs. The second ODI saw remarkable performances from Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan, both of whom scored centuries. Gill made 154 runs off 110 balls, while Kishan contributed 125 runs off 79 balls, propelling India to a formidable total of 402. Afghanistan struggled to keep up and were bowled out for 232 runs. The final ODI of the series is scheduled to take place in Chennai on Saturday, June 20.