Virat Kohli has been ruled out of India's three-match ODI series against Afghanistan due to a hamstring injury, a BCCI source told PTI. The series starts on June 13 in Dharamsala, with Kohli's absence expected to impact interest around the contest.
The 37-year-old, long known for high fitness levels, rarely misses games through injury. The source said, "He is out of the ODI series due to a hamstring injury. Kohli is now a one-format player but remains one of cricket's biggest global attractions.
Strong IPL form before injury setback
Kohli entered the series on the back of a strong IPL season. He led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a second straight title and scored the winning runs in the final against Gujarat Titans. He finished the campaign with 675 runs, including a hundred and five
fifties.
In the IPL, Kohli showed a reworked T20 game while anchoring RCB's batting. His form again drew focus to his limited-overs future for India. Ever since he and Rohit Sharma retired from Tests last year, debate has continued over their long-term ODI roles.
Rohit was named in the ODI squad against Afghanistan, subject to fitness. The opener had a hamstring injury during the IPL, which affected his appearances. It is not yet clear if he will play the entire Afghanistan series, with medical advice likely to guide decisions.
The Afghanistan series includes three ODIs in different Indian venues. The opener is in Dharamsala on June 13, the second ODI is in Lucknow on June 17, and the third match is in Chennai on June 20, forming India's last home ODIs before England.
| Match | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI vs Afghanistan | June 13 | Dharamsala |
| 2nd ODI vs Afghanistan | June 17 | Lucknow |
| 3rd ODI vs Afghanistan | June 20 | Chennai |
Looking ahead to 2027 World Cup and England tour
The next 50-over World Cup takes place in South Africa in October-November 2027. Kohli and Rohit are expected to be considered based on form and fitness. After facing Afghanistan, India's next ODI assignment is a three-match series in England, starting on July 14.
