Virat Kohli to Miss ODI Series Against Afghanistan Due to Injury

Kohli's Absence in Upcoming ODI Series

India will be without Virat Kohli for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan as he is sidelined due to a hamstring injury. Kohli sustained this injury during the IPL 2026 final, where he played a crucial innings for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). His injury has hindered his ability to run effectively between the wickets, leading him to rely more on boundary hitting towards the end of the match. The selectors are expected to announce Kohli's replacement when they reveal the squad for the Ireland and England series on Saturday (June 6).

Before the official announcement, former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has suggested Yashasvi Jaiswal as a potential replacement. However, Chopra prefers Ishan Kishan to bat at number 3 in the playing XI. Kishan, who stepped in for Rishabh Pant, made his ODI return after a three-year hiatus and has played in various batting positions in white-ball cricket. He has accumulated 933 runs in 24 ODIs, including a double century in his second match as an opener. Notably, Kishan has not participated in an ODI since the 2023 World Cup.

Yashasvi Jaiswal's Recent Performance

Yashasvi Jaiswal was dropped from ODI team

Despite scoring a century in his last ODI against South Africa in December 2025, Yashasvi Jaiswal was dropped from the ODI squad. He had a match-winning performance in the third ODI of that series but lost his spot in the lineup with the return of Shubman Gill. Jaiswal remained on the bench during the New Zealand series and was subsequently excluded from the Afghanistan series. Nevertheless, he continues to be a vital part of the Test team and is set to open the innings in the one-off Test against Afghanistan.

Jaiswal has not participated in a T20I match since 2024. He was rested for the T20I series against England in early 2025 and was later omitted from the squad. Although he was part of the victorious 2024 T20 World Cup team, he did not get the opportunity to play in any matches.