Virat Kohli to Miss ODI Series Against Afghanistan Due to Injury

Virat Kohli will be absent from the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan due to a tendon injury sustained during the IPL final. The BCCI has yet to announce a replacement, with potential candidates including Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad. The official announcement regarding Kohli's replacement is expected on June 6, coinciding with the selection committee's meeting to finalize squads for upcoming series. This development raises questions about the impact on the Indian team as they prepare for this crucial series.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 4, 2026, 17:43 IST

Kohli's Absence from Afghanistan ODI Series

Renowned Indian cricketer Virat Kohli will not participate in the upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan, scheduled to begin on June 4. The 37-year-old batsman, who recently made headlines by scoring 75 runs off 42 balls for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL 2026 final, has sustained an injury. Reports indicate that Kohli suffered a distal semimembranosus tendon tear during the final match. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not yet announced a replacement for him. During a pre-match press briefing, Team India's Assistant Coach Ryan Ten Doeschate mentioned that an official update regarding Kohli's situation will be released shortly.

Announcement of Kohli's Replacement

According to sources, the announcement regarding Kohli's replacement is expected on June 6. The senior men's selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, will convene in Mumbai to finalize the squads for India's upcoming T20I series in Ireland and England, as well as the team for the Asian Games 2026. During this meeting, they will also discuss who will take Kohli's place in the ODI lineup for the Afghanistan series. It will be intriguing to see which player the Indian cricket board selects to fill the void left by the veteran.

While the BCCI has not provided an official statement regarding Kohli's injury and withdrawal from the Afghanistan ODIs, potential candidates to replace him include Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad. Jaiswal, despite being part of India's recent ODI squad against New Zealand, did not secure a spot in the Afghanistan series. Gaikwad, on the other hand, showcased his talent during the ODI series against South Africa last year and is also included in the India A team for the upcoming tri-series in Sri Lanka.

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