Virat Kohli Will Miss Afghanistan ODIs Due To Injury, Jaiswal Named Replacement
Jaiswal replaces injured Kohli for Afghanistan ODI series.
India's preparations for the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan suffered a setback after veteran batter Virat Kohli was ruled out with a hamstring injury. The development has disappointed fans, especially as Kohli continues to focus on extending his ODI career with an eye on the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup. The injury occurred during the IPL 2026 final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans, forcing him to miss the Afghanistan series.
Announcing India's squads on Saturday, BCCI Chief selector Ajit Agarkar confirmed that young batter Yashasvi Jaiswal has been drafted into the ODI squad as Kohli's replacement. Jaiswal, who has impressed across formats in recent years, is currently part of India's squad for the one-off Test against Afghanistan being played in Mullanpur.
Reports suggest that Kohli could also miss the subsequent ODI series against England as he focuses on a full recovery. According to sources, the former India captain has suffered a hamstring tear that does not require surgery but is expected to keep him sidelined for around six weeks. His rehabilitation is likely to take place at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru after medical consultations and a review of MRI scans by noted orthopaedic surgeon Dinshaw Pardiwalla.
Also Read: Virat Kohli Reportedly Set For Six-Week Recovery, Doubtful For England ODIs
The squad announcement also signalled significant changes in India's T20I setup. Batter Shreyas Iyer has been appointed captain, replacing Suryakumar Yadav ahead of upcoming T20I assignments. India named squads for the T20I series against Ireland and England, along with preparations related to the Asian Games campaign.
Another major talking point was the inclusion of teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. At just 15 years and 71 days old, Sooryavanshi becomes the youngest player ever selected for an Indian team, surpassing a long-standing record held by cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. His rapid rise has generated considerable excitement among Indian cricket followers.
India's white-ball schedule begins with two T20Is in Ireland on June 26 and 28 before the team travels to England for a five-match T20I series from July 1 to July 11. The tour also marks Iyer's return to India's T20I setup for the first time since featuring against Australia in Bengaluru in December 2023, adding another intriguing storyline to a period of transition for the national side.
Also Read: RCB Star Reveals Virat Kohli’s Unexpected Side, Calls IPL 2026 Stint Life-Changing
