Team India star player Virat Kohli will miss the upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan due to injury. The right-handed batter sustained a hamstring injury during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 final against the Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad, resulting in the selection committee roping in a last-minute replacement to the squad.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar confirmed that opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal will join the ODI squad as Virat Kohli looks to recover from his injury in time for the away series against England in July. The young southpaw had stepped in as a replacement after Shubman Gill’s injury ahead of the home ODI series against South Africa in late 2025.
Yashasvi Jaiswal had recorded his maiden ODI hundred during the series finale, and his absence in the recently announced squad had sparked outrage among fans and pundits.
“Yashasvi Jaiswal set to replace Virat Kohli in the squad for Afghanistan ODIs,” Agarkar said during the squad announcement press conference in Mumbai on Saturday.
A recent report suggested that Virat Kohli’s injury may take up to six weeks to recover. Meanwhile, the three-match ODI series against England is scheduled to begin on July 14 in Birmingham.
Yashasvi Jaiswal is currently part of the Test team set-up that is facing Afghanistan in a one-off Test in Mullanpur. The left-handed batter scored 24 runs off 32 deliveries before being caught behind in the first session on Day 1.
Team India to face Afghanistan in 3 ODIs after the one-off Test
The two nations will face each other for the first time in an ODI bilateral series, with their past encounters being at the World Cup and Asia Cups. The three-match series is set to begin on June 13, with Dharamshala, Lucknow, and Chennai, set to play host to the matches.
Team India recorded a loss in the last ODI series they competed in. They suffered a 1-2 loss against New Zealand at home, as captain Shubman Gill searches for his first series win as captain in the format.
Edited by Gokul Nair