Virat Kohli Ruled Out of India vs Afghanistan ODI Series Due to Hamstring Injury; Rohit Sharma Also Faces Fitness Concern

India’s preparations for the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan have been hit by a significant injury blow, with Virat Kohli ruled out of the three-match assignment because of a hamstring injury.

The series, scheduled to begin on June 13 in Dharamsala, was expected to mark Kohli’s return to international cricket after a long gap. However, the injury has forced the veteran batter to the sidelines at a time when he was enjoying some of the best white-ball form of his career.

Kohli’s Injury Comes After IPL 2026 Heroics

Kohli reportedly suffered the hamstring injury during the IPL 2026 final while representing Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Gujarat Titans.

Despite experiencing discomfort in the latter stages of the chase, Kohli continued batting and guided RCB to victory with an unbeaten 75 off 42 deliveries. His innings helped Bengaluru secure a second consecutive IPL title, further cementing his status as one of the most influential players in the tournament.

Medical attention was required during the match, but Kohli chose to continue. The injury appears to have worsened after the final, ultimately ruling him out of the Afghanistan series.

Kohli’s Outstanding Form Before the Injury

The injury comes at an unfortunate time for the former India captain, who had been in exceptional form in ODI cricket.

Following his retirement from Test and T20I cricket, Kohli’s primary focus has been the 50-over format and preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Virat Kohli’s Recent ODI Numbers

During the South Africa series, Kohli scored two centuries and finished as one of India’s standout performers. He then continued his excellent run against New Zealand, adding another century and a fifty.

Across 2025, Kohli accumulated 651 ODI runs in 13 matches, including three hundreds and four half-centuries.

IPL 2026 Statistics

Kohli carried his ODI form directly into the IPL, where he produced another memorable season.

His strike rate was among the best of his IPL career, reflecting his successful adaptation to modern T20 cricket while maintaining consistency.

Why Kohli’s Absence Matters

Kohli remains one of the biggest attractions in world cricket despite stepping away from two international formats.

His presence was expected to be a major talking point during the Afghanistan series, not only because of his popularity but also because of his importance to India’s ODI plans ahead of the next World Cup cycle.

The series was viewed as an important opportunity for India to continue building momentum under new captain Shubman Gill while integrating younger players into the squad.

Without Kohli, the batting unit will lose experience, stability, and one of its most reliable run-scorers.

Rohit Sharma’s Fitness Also Under Watch

India’s concerns do not end with Kohli.

Captain Rohit Sharma remains doubtful for the ODI series as he continues recovering from a hamstring injury sustained during the IPL season.

The injury forced him to miss several matches and limited his role upon returning. For much of the latter part of the tournament, Rohit featured primarily as a specialist batter rather than a fully fit all-round contributor on the field.

Although he was included in India’s squad, his participation remains dependent on receiving fitness clearance.

India’s ODI Squad for Afghanistan Series

The team management has not yet announced a replacement for Kohli.

Timeline of Events

India now face an important selection decision ahead of the Afghanistan series.

The team will need to find a replacement for Kohli while also monitoring Rohit Sharma’s recovery. If Rohit is unavailable, the responsibility on younger batters and middle-order players will increase significantly.

The Afghanistan series is expected to play a key role in shaping India’s preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup, making player fitness and squad depth major talking points over the coming weeks.

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