India have been pressured right into a late squad change forward of the upcoming ODI collection in opposition to Afghanistan after Virat Kohli was dominated out with a hamstring damage. The veteran batter sustained the setback within the remaining match of IPL 2026 between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Gujarat Titans (GT) and can now miss India’s first ODI task since January.
Kohli, who now solely represents India within the 50-over format following his retirement from Exams and T20Is, was initially named within the squad for the Afghanistan collection. Nonetheless, considerations over his restoration have prompted the selectors to take a cautious method, particularly with an essential ODI tour of England scheduled for July. With three ODIs set to be performed on June 13, 17 and 20, the Indian workforce administration has already named a alternative, handing a possibility to one of many nation’s most promising younger batters.
Virat Kohli dominated out after struggling hamstring damage
Kohli performed a pivotal function in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s profitable IPL 2026 marketing campaign, ending because the franchise’s main run-scorer and delivering a match-winning unbeaten 75 within the remaining in opposition to GT. His innings earned him the Participant of the Match award as RCB secured their second consecutive IPL title.
Nonetheless, the previous India captain picked up a hamstring damage in the course of the title conflict. Whereas he managed to finish the innings, subsequent assessments confirmed that he wouldn’t be slot in time for the Afghanistan ODI collection. India chief selector Ajit Agarkar confirmed Kohli’s absence and admitted that there’s nonetheless no definitive timeline concerning his restoration.
“With Virat at this level, it’s simply been lower than per week since he injured himself within the IPL finals. We don’t know the timelines but. But it surely appears to be like like he may be match for that England one-day collection,” Agarkar stated.
The 37-year-old was in glorious ODI type earlier than the damage setback. He scored 240 runs within the house collection in opposition to New Zealand earlier this 12 months and carried that momentum into IPL 2026, the place he amassed 675 runs at a mean of 56.25.
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BCCI drafts younger opener into India squad for Afghanistan ODI
With Kohli unavailable, Yashasvi Jaiswal has been named as his alternative for the Afghanistan collection. The left-handed opener returns to the ODI setup after lacking the New Zealand collection in January. Jaiswal has performed solely 4 ODIs for India thus far however has already made a powerful impression. The teenager has scored 171 runs at a powerful common of 57.00 and registered his maiden ODI century in opposition to South Africa in December 2025.
“Yashasvi Jaiswal will substitute Virat Kohli for the three ODIs in opposition to Afghanistan,” Agarkar confirmed the alternative.
The 24-year-old is at the moment a part of India’s squad for the continuing one-off Take a look at in opposition to Afghanistan and stays one of the crucial highly-rated batting abilities in Indian cricket. His inclusion gives India with an aggressive top-order choice as they put together for the Afghanistan problem and the following ODI tour of England in July. India’s ODI collection in opposition to Afghanistan will start on June 13 in Dharamsala earlier than the motion shifts to Lucknow on June 17 and Chennai on June 20.
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