Virat Kohli has reportedly been ruled out of India’s ODI series against Afghanistan because of a hamstring injury, though the severity has not been officially confirmed.
Injury during the IPL final
Kohli hurt himself while playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Gujarat Titans. He still made an unbeaten 75 off 42 balls to help RCB win a second successive IPL title in a tense final, though he looked uncomfortable during the match.
The ODI series starts on Saturday, June 13, after the one-off Test between the sides. With the extent of the injury unannounced, his recovery timeline is unclear.
Why it matters
The news is a blow for India as they prepare for next year’s ICC Cricket World Cup. Kohli has been excellent in the format, ending 2025 with 651 runs at an average of 65.10, including three centuries. Earlier this year he made 240 runs in a three-match ODI series against New Zealand at a strike rate of 105.26.
The BCCI has not named a replacement. Management is expected to track his recovery closely, and his absence might be a precaution to protect his fitness for bigger assignments, including India’s white-ball tour of England.
Batting options
India’s line-up still includes Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya. Ishan Kishan is also in the squad and could be tried in a top-order role while Kohli is out.
