India have suffered a major setback ahead of this month’s three-match ODI series against Afghanistan, with former captain Virat Kohli ruled out due to a hamstring injury. According to a Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) source cited by PTI, Kohli will not be part of the squad for the series, which begins on June 14 in Dharamsala. The second ODI is scheduled for June 17 in Lucknow, while the third and final match will be played on June 20 in Chennai.
The injury is believed to have been sustained during the Indian Premier League 2026 final, where Kohli played a key role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s title win over Gujarat Titans. Kohli looked uncomfortable while running in the closing stages of the match, though he stayed on the field and finished the job for his team. In the final, he scored an unbeaten 75 off 42 balls, helping RCB secure a five-wicket victory and claim back-to-back championships.
A medical assessment after the final indicated that Kohli was dealing with an injury, although no official update has been provided on the exact severity. His absence from the Afghanistan series comes at a time when he was in outstanding form. In IPL 2026, Kohli scored 675 runs in 16 matches at an average of 56.25 and a strike rate of 165.85, underlining his importance to RCB’s successful campaign.
The India squad for the ODI series against Afghanistan has already been announced, with Shubman Gill named captain. Shreyas Iyer will serve as vice-captain. The squad also includes Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey.
The Afghanistan series will be closely watched as India continue to test combinations and manage player fitness ahead of a busy international calendar. Kohli’s omission is significant not only because of his recent form, but also because of his experience and leadership value in white-ball cricket. For Afghanistan, India’s weakened batting order may present an added opportunity in the three-match contest.
The schedule for India’s matches is as follows: first ODI on June 14 in Dharamsala, second ODI on June 17 in Lucknow, and third ODI on June 20 in Chennai, all beginning at 1:30 PM local time.
