Virat Kohli to miss Afghanistan ODIs with hamstring injury: Reports
Synopsis
India's Afghanistan ODI series just lost its biggest draw. Virat Kohli is reportedly ruled out with a hamstring strain — possibly picked up in the IPL 2026 final — and Rohit Sharma's fitness is also under a cloud. With the England tour weeks away, the timing could not be worse for India's senior core.
Key Takeaways
Virat Kohli is reportedly set to miss the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan due to a hamstring injury.
The injury may have occurred during the IPL 2026 final on 31 May at the Narendra Modi Stadium , Ahmedabad.
The series begins on 13 June in Dharamsala , followed by ODIs in Lucknow (17 June) and Chennai (20 June).
Rohit Sharma's availability is also unclear; he is yet to join the squad in Bengaluru.
Kohli scored 651 runs with three tons in ODIs last year and 240 runs in three matches against New Zealand in 2026.
His participation in the England ODI tour (14–19 July) is now in doubt.
Virat Kohli is set to miss India's upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan after reportedly picking up a hamstring injury, dealing a significant blow to the home side ahead of the 13 June 2026 series opener in Dharamsala. The senior batter's absence comes alongside fresh uncertainty over former captain Rohit Sharma's availability, leaving India's top order thinner than expected.
What we know about the injury
According to multiple reports, Kohli is nursing a hamstring strain that will keep him out of the entire three-match contest. The exact timing of the injury has not been officially confirmed, but it is believed to have possibly occurred during the IPL 2026 final on 31 May at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
A double blow for India
Kohli's setback is compounded by doubts over Rohit Sharma, who also picked up a niggle during IPL 2026. Both Rohit and all-rounder Hardik Pandya were named in the squad subject to fitness clearance. While Pandya has reportedly checked in with the team, Rohit is yet to arrive in Bengaluru, casting further uncertainty on the playing combination.
Series schedule
The three-match series begins on 13 June at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala. The second ODI shifts to the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on 17 June, before the teams head to the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai for the decider on 20 June.
Kohli's recent ODI form
The absence is particularly costly given Kohli's purple patch in the 50-over format. He amassed 651 runs in ODIs last year, including three centuries and four fifties. The chase master carried that momentum into 2026, scoring 240 runs in just three matches against New Zealand.
England tour now in question
The hamstring issue also clouds Kohli's availability for India's high-profile England tour, which features three ODIs running from 14 July to 19 July. The recovery window is tight, and team management will reportedly assess his progress before committing to the tour squad.
Point of View
But layered on top of Rohit Sharma's unresolved fitness, it exposes how thin India's senior ODI core has become. The IPL-to-international turnaround has now claimed multiple marquee names across cycles — a structural workload problem the BCCI has yet to address. Afghanistan, on paper a soft assignment, suddenly becomes a stress test for India's bench. The bigger worry is England in July: if Kohli is not match-fit by mid-July, India's middle order loses its anchor in conditions where it traditionally struggles.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Virat Kohli missing the Afghanistan ODI series?
Kohli is reportedly ruled out of the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan due to a hamstring injury. The exact timing of the injury is unconfirmed, but it is believed to have possibly occurred during the IPL 2026 final on 31 May in Ahmedabad.
When does the India vs Afghanistan ODI series start?
The series begins on 13 June 2026 at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala. The second ODI is in Lucknow on 17 June, and the third in Chennai on 20 June.
Is Rohit Sharma also missing the Afghanistan series?
Rohit Sharma's availability remains unclear. He was picked subject to fitness clearance after an injury during IPL 2026 and is yet to arrive in Bengaluru to join the squad.
Will Kohli be fit for the England tour?
His participation in the England ODI tour from 14 to 19 July is now in doubt. Team management is expected to assess his hamstring recovery before finalising the squad for England.
How has Kohli performed in recent ODIs?
Kohli scored 651 runs in ODIs last year with three centuries and four fifties. In 2026, he has already scored 240 runs in just three matches against New Zealand.
