Virat Kohli to Miss Afghanistan ODI Series Due to Injury

Virat Kohli's hamstring injury will prevent him from participating in the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan, a major setback for the Indian cricket team. Kohli, who played a crucial role in RCB's IPL victory, sustained the injury during the final match. Team India's Assistant Coach Ryan Ten Doeschate confirmed Kohli's absence and highlighted the impact of losing such a key player. The series is set to begin on June 13, with concerns also surrounding the fitness of Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya. The Indian squad is preparing for a challenging series ahead.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 4, 2026, 13:58 IST

Kohli's Injury a Major Setback for India

Renowned Indian cricketer Virat Kohli will be sidelined for the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan due to a hamstring injury, posing a significant challenge for the Indian team as they prepare for their 50-over matches scheduled from June 13 to June 20. Kohli played a pivotal role in the IPL 2026 final, where he helped RCB secure their second consecutive championship by successfully chasing down a target of 156 runs. He remained not out at 75 runs off 42 deliveries, despite showing signs of discomfort while running towards the end of the match. Reports indicate that Kohli sustained the injury during the final, with scans revealing a distal semimembranosus tendon tear. Throughout the IPL season, he amassed 675 runs across 16 matches, boasting a strike rate of 165.85 and an impressive average of 56.25.

Comments from Team India's Assistant Coach

Indian Coach On Virat Kohli

Ryan Ten Doeschate, the Assistant Coach for Team India, commented on Kohli's absence, stating that an official announcement regarding his condition will be made soon. He emphasized that losing a player of Kohli's caliber is always a significant setback for the team. 'Official communication will come on that, but it is always a big blow if players like Virat Kohli miss out,' Ten Doeschate remarked during a pre-match press conference ahead of the one-off Test against Afghanistan.

In addition to Kohli, the Indian team is also monitoring the fitness of Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya, both of whom have faced injury issues that limited their participation in the IPL with the Mumbai Indians. The ODI series will kick off on June 13 in Dharamsala, followed by the second ODI in Lucknow on June 17, and the final match in Chennai on June 20. Prior to the ODI series, the teams will compete in a single Test on June 6 in Chandigarh.

India’s ODI Squad For Afghanistan Series

Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma*, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), KL Rahul (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya*, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey