Massive Blow for Team India: Virat Kohli Ruled Out of Afghanistan ODI Series Due to Hamstring Injury
The star batter sustained the injury during his match-winning knock in the IPL 2026 final, leaving India with a massive hole to fill at number three.
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The Indian cricket team has suffered a major setback ahead of their upcoming white-ball assignment. Star batter Virat Kohli has been ruled out of the three-match One Day International (ODI) series against Afghanistan due to a hamstring injury, according to a report by Dainik Jagran.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not yet released an official statement regarding the development. The selectors now face the critical decision of whether to name a late replacement from outside the current squad or reconfigure the batting order using the players already stationed in the camp.
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Injury Sustained During IPL 2026 Final Heroics
The injury is believed to have occurred during the high-stakes IPL 2026 final, where Kohli represented Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) against the Gujarat Titans. Despite experiencing physical discomfort during the match, Kohli pushed through to deliver a match-winning, unbeaten 75 runs, single-handedly steering RCB to their second consecutive IPL title.
The timing of the injury is particularly painful given Kohli’s astonishing run of form. He completely dominated the recent IPL season and carried excellent momentum from earlier international fixtures.
| Competition / Format | Matches/Innings | Total Runs | Key Milestones |
| IPL 2026 Season | 16 matches | 675 runs | 1 Century, 5 Half-Centuries |
| ODI Series vs NZ (2026) | 3 innings | 240 runs | 1 Century, 1 Half-Century |
| Domestic Return | Vijay Hazare Trophy | Top Form | Solidified multi-format readiness |
The Impact on the India vs Afghanistan Schedule
Fans were eagerly anticipating Kohli’s presence in the top order, hoping to see him replicate his aggressive IPL strike rate of 165.84 on the international stage. Instead, he will watch the entire white-ball series from the sidelines.
Before the limited-overs matches begin, India and Afghanistan will compete in a one-off Test match scheduled from June 6 to June 10. The short ODI series will immediately follow:
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First ODI: June 13, 2026 – Dharamsala (1:30 PM IST)
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Second ODI: June 17, 2026 – Lucknow (1:30 PM IST)
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Third ODI: June 20, 2026 – Chennai (1:30 PM IST)
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Who Fills the Vacant Number Three Spot?
Though Kohli remains on the initial squad sheet officially released to the public, team management must now find an alternative anchor for the batting order.
Within the current touring party, wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan stands out as the most seamless option to move into the top three. However, if the selection committee decides to fly in a replacement, they have a wealth of in-form domestic talent to choose from.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Sanju Samson all cleared triple figures in their most recent official ODI outings. Additionally, the selectors could look toward India A captain Tilak Varma to bolster the middle order, or hand a recall to Sai Sudharsan, who last featured in the ODI setup back in 2023.
India’s Official ODI Squad: Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (ruled out), Shreyas Iyer (Vice-Captain), KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey, Hardik Pandya.
FAQ Section
Why is Virat Kohli missing the Afghanistan ODI series?
Virat Kohli has been ruled out of the entire three-match ODI series due to a hamstring injury sustained during the final match of the IPL 2026 season.
When did Virat Kohli get injured?
The injury occurred during the IPL 2026 final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans. Despite the hamstring issue, Kohli stayed on the field to score an unbeaten 75 runs to win the title for RCB.
Who will replace Virat Kohli in the batting lineup?
While the BCCI has not named an official squad replacement, internal options like Ishan Kishan could bat at number three. External reserve choices could include Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, or Sanju Samson.
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End….
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