Virat Kohli to Miss ODI Series Against Afghanistan Due to Injury

Kohli's Absence in Upcoming ODI Series

Virat Kohli's return to the Indian national team has been postponed as he is sidelined by a hamstring injury, which will prevent him from participating in the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan. The 37-year-old cricketer will miss all three matches in this historic bilateral ODI series, set to occur in Dharamshala, Lucknow, and Chennai from July 13 to July 20. This series marks India's first ODI engagement since their 2-1 defeat to New Zealand at home in January, which was also Kohli's last appearance for the national team. Having retired from T20I and Test formats, he is currently active only in One Day Internationals.

Kohli's Injury Details

The injury occurred during the IPL final where Kohli played for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru against the Gujarat Titans on May 31. He appeared to be in discomfort throughout his innings and struggled to run towards the end. Despite this, he was awarded the Player of the Match for scoring 75 runs off 42 balls.

Future Matches for Kohli

Although the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not released an official statement regarding Kohli's condition, reports suggest that the injury is not severe. If his recovery proceeds without complications, he may be ready for the ODI series against England during India's tour of the UK, scheduled for July 14, 16, and 19 at Edgbaston, Cardiff, and The Oval. However, if he remains unfit for the England series, fans may have to wait until September to see him play again, when India hosts the West Indies from September 27 to October 3.