IND vs AFG: The Indian national cricket team has been dealt a huge blow as star batter Virat Kohli is set to miss the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan. Kohli, who is arguably the greatest batter in the history of the format, suffered a hamstring injury during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. The injury has ruled the former Team India skipper out of the series. The Shubman Gill-led side would now look for replacements as the huge boots in the number three position would have to be filled. Whether it will be a change in batting positions from within the probable playing XI or will someone like Ishan Kishan, who is part of the squad, replace Kohli, let’s find out.
IND vs AFG: Virat Kohli set to miss India vs Afghanistan ODI series
The latest PTI report revealed that Virat Kohli will be sidelined for the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan as he has suffered a hamstring injury. India-Afghanistan will have a three-match ODI series beginning June 13. The former India captain Virat Kohli is unlikely to feature in the ODI series against Afghanistan as per a BCCI source. The source told the news agency that Virat Kohli is ruled out of the series due to a hamstring injury.
IND vs AFG: India ODI Squad vs Afghanistan
India ODI Squad: Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer (VC), KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey
IND vs AFG: Who will replace Virat Kohli in India’s playing XI
Virat Kohli is set to miss the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan. The right-handed batter suffered a hamstring injury, which could keep him out of the action for the ‘Men in Blue’. Thanks to his performances in the format, it will be a huge responsibility for any player who bats at number three. Among the players in the squad, the most convenient option to pick for batting at three appears to be Ishan Kishan.
Ishan Kishan to replace Virat Kohli
The wicketkeeper batter batted at the same position for the Indian team in the T20 World Cup earlier this year and played a huge role in helping the Suryakumar Yadav-led side to become the first team to win the tournament on home turf. Kishan then batted at number three for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the recently concluded IPL 2026. While One-Day cricket is a different format altogether, Kishan has shown enough potential to be given a chance in the longer format. Additionally, with him being a left-hander, Kishan adds another dynamic to the Indian team, which is packed with right-handed batters at the moment.
Yashasvi Jaiswal to join the India ODI squad?
Shubman Gill and the team management could look at possibly getting Yashasvi Jaiswal in the ODI squad. The left-handed batter could either bat at number three or open the innings with Rohit Sharma pushing the skipper, Gill down to number three.
(More to follow)
Pragun is a passionate cricket follower and writer who deeply loves the game. Having completed his education with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, he has an experience of almost two years in diverse fields. He is known for his statistical and analytical articles. Pragun tries to bring life to his articles by adding a layer of enthusiasm from the perspective of a hardcore fan. Apart from writing cricket articles, he sometimes appears on YouTube videos on a friend’s podcast.
