Jaiswal replaces Kohli in India's Afghanistan ODI squad; Rohit, Hardik await fitness nod
Synopsis
Virat Kohli's IPL final heroics came at a cost — a worsening hamstring has ruled him out of India's Afghanistan ODI series, handing Yashasvi Jaiswal a recall. With Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya also in a fitness race, India's senior batting and all-round core is under simultaneous strain just weeks before the England series.
Key Takeaways
Yashasvi Jaiswal has been named as cover for Virat Kohli , who is out with a right hamstring injury sustained in the IPL 2026 final .
Kohli's last ODI contribution was a match-winning 75 not out for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Gujarat Titans ; he is tentatively expected back for England ODIs in July .
Jaiswal's last ODI was on 6 December 2025 vs South Africa in Visakhapatnam , where he scored an unbeaten 116 off 121 balls .
Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya are in the squad subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI CoE, Bengaluru .
The three ODIs are scheduled in Dharamsala (13 June) , Lucknow (17 June) , and Chennai (20 June) .
Yashasvi Jaiswal has been named as a replacement for an injured Virat Kohli in India's squad for the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan, beginning 13 June in Dharamsala. Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya are also part of the provisional group but will need to clear fitness assessments before they can feature.
Kohli's Injury and Expected Return
Kohli sustained a right hamstring injury during IPL 2026's final, where he scored a match-winning 75 not out for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad. The injury has since worsened, ruling him out of the Afghanistan series entirely.
Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar, speaking at a press conference at the BCCI headquarters on Saturday, said the timeline remains uncertain. 'It's just less than a week since he injured himself in the IPL final. Don't know the timelines yet, looks like he might be fit for England ODIs. Not a definitive squad, don't have a timeline from the physio yet,' Agarkar said. Kohli is tentatively expected to return for the ODI series against England in July.
Jaiswal Steps In
Jaiswal's inclusion marks his return to ODI cricket after a gap of several months. His last appearance in the 50-over format came on 6 December 2025 against South Africa in Visakhapatnam, where he struck an unbeaten 116 off 121 balls — his maiden international ODI century. The left-handed opener has been in strong form across formats and was a natural pick to fill Kohli's slot.
Rohit and Pandya's Fitness Race
Rohit Sharma is expected to report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru within the next two to three days for a fitness assessment, after a hamstring injury forced him to miss several matches for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026. Meanwhile, seam-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been undergoing rehabilitation at the same facility since 2 June, following a back injury that sidelined him during the latter stages of the IPL.
'We follow the usual process for injured players. We're awaiting their final fitness clearance,' Agarkar added. Both players' participation hinges entirely on medical sign-off from the BCCI's support staff.
Series Schedule and What's Next
After the series opener in Dharamsala on 13 June, the remaining two ODIs will be held in Lucknow and Chennai on 17 June and 20 June respectively. The selectors are expected to announce India's squad for the England ODI series at a later date, with Kohli, Rohit, and Pandya all likely to return if fitness permits. This series also serves as a useful opportunity for fringe players to press their claims ahead of a busy international calendar.
Point of View
Rohit, and Pandya — are simultaneously racing against fitness deadlines, and the Afghanistan series is arriving at an awkward moment. The BCCI's reliance on the CoE rehabilitation pipeline is being stress-tested in full view. More concerning is the pattern: high-stakes IPL commitments are increasingly bleeding into international availability, raising a structural question that selectors have so far sidestepped. Jaiswal's recall is a silver lining, but the optics of fielding a fitness-dependent squad against Afghanistan — a side India should be dominating with full strength — underscore how thin the margin for error has become ahead of the England assignment.
NationPress
13 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Virat Kohli been ruled out of the Afghanistan ODI series?
Kohli sustained a right hamstring injury during the IPL 2026 final while batting for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and the injury has since worsened. Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar confirmed his exclusion, adding that he may be fit in time for the England ODIs in July.
Who has replaced Virat Kohli in India's ODI squad vs Afghanistan?
Yashasvi Jaiswal has been named as Kohli's replacement. Jaiswal's most recent ODI was on 6 December 2025 against South Africa in Visakhapatnam, where he scored an unbeaten 116 off 121 balls — his maiden ODI century.
Will Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya play in the Afghanistan ODI series?
Both players are in the squad but their participation is conditional on fitness clearance from the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Rohit is recovering from a hamstring injury, while Pandya has been in rehab for a back injury since 2 June.
Where and when will the India vs Afghanistan ODI series be played?
The three-match series begins on 13 June in Dharamsala, followed by matches in Lucknow on 17 June and Chennai on 20 June.
When will India's squad for the England ODI series be announced?
According to Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar, the squad for the England ODI series will be announced at a later date, after the Afghanistan series concludes. Kohli, Rohit, and Pandya are all expected to be considered if they regain full fitness.
