India's fast bowling coach Morne Morkel has confirmed that the team will experiment with the number three batting position in Virat Kohli's absence during the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan, beginning at the HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala on Saturday, 14 June 2026. With Kohli ruled out due to a hamstring injury, the No.3 slot is up for grabs among three contenders.

Why Kohli Is Missing

Virat Kohli sustained a hamstring injury while scoring a match-winning 75 not out in the IPL 2026 final between his team and the Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad. The injury has ruled him out of all three ODIs against Afghanistan, with the remaining fixtures scheduled in Lucknow on 17 June and Chennai on 20 June.

The No.3 Contenders

Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul, and Yashasvi Jaiswal are the three names in contention to fill Kohli's pivotal slot. Morkel indicated that the series will be used as a structured audition across multiple batting positions. 'I think that's something that in this series we'll play around with, (whether) it's Ishan (Kishan) or KL (Rahul) or Yashasvi (Jaiswal). We have got a couple of one-day games coming up, and we'll give guys an opportunity in different slots to give ourselves a better idea of how we can structure teams and have different options,' Morkel said at the pre-match press conference in Dharamshala.

Notably, during India's training session on Friday, Kishan was seen on wicketkeeping duties while Rahul was deployed taking outfield catches — a strong signal that Rahul, who has largely batted in the middle order over the past five years, could be promoted up the order for the Dharamshala clash.

Debutants in the Frame

The series is also set to offer international debuts to pace prospects Prince Yadav and Gurnoor Brar. Morkel spoke warmly of both at the press conference. 'First impressions, it is almost like they've been part of the squad for five years. I saw no nervousness on their face. The way they've gone about training, the energy they've trained with, was good to see,' he said.

This comes amid a broader India strategy of using bilateral series against lower-ranked opposition to blood new talent ahead of a packed international calendar. Both Yadav and Brar are expected to feature across the Lucknow and Chennai legs of the series.

Rohit Sharma Fit and Ready

Concerns over Rohit Sharma's fitness were also addressed. The India captain was spotted training with a different thigh pad, prompting speculation about a hamstring issue he reportedly picked up during IPL 2026. Morkel moved quickly to dispel any worry. 'He's passed all his fitness tests. He's cleared and ready to go. Obviously, the balls are coming at high speeds, and you want to protect yourself, even if there's a slight niggle. But I can assure you there's nothing wrong,' Morkel said.

The coach added: 'Rohit is moving well and training well. So excited to see him go. Always nice to have his experience back as well. Just the calmness that he brings to the dressing room is always a positive to have.' With Rohit confirmed fit, India head into the series with their full leadership structure intact, even as the batting order undergoes a significant reshuffle in Kohli's absence.