Virat Kohli has reportedly been ruled out of the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan due to an injury. After a triumphant IPL season with RCB, Kohli was set to don the Blues once again, with India set to host Afghanistan in three ODIs, starting on June 13. However, he won’t be able to feature in the home series due to a hamstring problem. Kohli appeared at his best in the IPL 2026 final. He struck an unbeaten 75, guiding the Bengaluru-based franchise to its second title.
Kohli, who has already retired from Tests and T20Is, was called up for the Afghanistan series along with another veteran batter, Rohit Sharma. Shubman Gill will continue to lead India in the 50-over format.
Virat Kohli Injury: When Will The Indian Batting Icon Return To Action?
While there is no official confirmation of this injury, reports suggest that Virat Kohli will be out of the entire ODI series against Afghanistan, missing all three games due to a hamstring injury. The RCB icon was last seen in action in the IPL final, but there were no signs of an injury. He was consistent throughout the season, amassing 675 runs at a 50-plus batting average.
When Did Virat Kohli Last Play for India?
Virat Kohli announced his retirement from the shortest format in 2024 after winning the T20 World Cup and played his last Test against Australia in 2025. The veteran batter, however, remains in contention to feature in the next ODI World Cup. He last represented India in a home ODI against New Zealand earlier in January this year.
How Can India Deal With Virat Kohli’s Absence?
With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli returning to the fold, India were expected to field their strongest eleven against Afghanistan. But now that Kohli is injured, the top order will need to be reshaped. It’s yet to be seen if the team management names a replacement for Kohli or proceeds with the same squad.
India’s Squad for ODI Series vs Afghanistan
Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (VC), KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington, Kuldeep, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnur Brar, Harsh Dubey, Hardik Pandya
