Aakash Chopra Backs Ishan Kishan to Replace Kohli At No. 3 Against Afghanistan

India will begin their three-match ODI series against Afghanistan on Saturday with a notable change in the batting order, as star batter Virat Kohli has been ruled out due to injury. While captain Shubman Gill and veteran opener Rohit Sharma are expected to lead the batting unit, attention has shifted to who will occupy the crucial number three position usually held by Kohli. The series offers India an opportunity to assess bench strength and experiment with combinations ahead of major international assignments.

Former India batter and commentator Aakash Chopra believes wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan is the frontrunner to replace Kohli in the middle order. Chopra described Kishan as being in excellent form and suggested that the left-hander has repeatedly capitalised on opportunities whenever they have emerged. According to Chopra, Kishan's ability to seize unexpected chances has been a defining feature of his international career and could once again work in his favour during the Afghanistan series.

Kishan faces competition from Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is also being considered for the role. However, Chopra indicated that Kishan's recent performances and adaptability make him a strong candidate for the position. With Rohit Sharma returning to action after receiving clearance from the Board of Control for Cricket in India's Centre of Excellence, India are expected to field a balanced batting lineup despite Kohli's absence.

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The build-up to the series has also been overshadowed by an injury setback to all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Pandya has been ruled out after suffering a fresh quadriceps strain during fitness assessments at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Reports suggest the injury may have occurred while he was bowling his full quota of overs as part of his rehabilitation process following a back spasm sustained during the Indian Premier League season.

Pandya's absence is considered a significant blow for India, particularly with selectors keen to increase his workload in the ODI format ahead of next year's ODI World Cup. The 32-year-old has struggled with injuries in recent seasons and had only recently returned to action after missing several IPL matches. Medical staff are expected to monitor his recovery closely over the coming weeks before making decisions regarding his return to competitive cricket.

The ODI series will be played across three venues, beginning in Dharamshala on June 13 before moving to Lucknow on June 17 and Chennai on June 20. Afghanistan will look to challenge a strong Indian side despite the absence of Kohli and Pandya, while India will use the series to evaluate squad depth and identify players capable of stepping into key roles. The contest is expected to provide valuable insights for the team management as preparations continue for future international tournaments.

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