Virat Kohli has been ruled out of India’s ODI series against Afghanistan with a hamstring injury, according to BCCI sources. Rohit Sharma remains doubtful due to fitness concerns.
India's Virat Kohli (Photo: IANS)
Star India batter Virat Kohli has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan due to a hamstring injury, according to sources in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The three-match ODI series is scheduled to begin on June 13 in Dharamshala following the one-off Test between the two sides in New Chandigarh.
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Kohli appeared to struggle while running during the closing stages of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 final against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad. Despite the apparent discomfort, the former India captain played a match-winning knock of 75* off 42 balls to guide Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a challenging 156-run chase.
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Indian batter Virat Kohli is ruled out of the ODI series against Afghanistan at home due to a hamstring injury, according to BCCI sources.#ViratKohli #INDvsAFG #BCCI #ODICricket #sportsnews #TheStatesman pic.twitter.com/vwCJv8yQUj
— The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) June 4, 2026
While India captain Rohit Sharma has been included in the ODI squad, his participation in the Afghanistan series remains uncertain and will depend on his fitness.
Kohli enjoyed another prolific IPL campaign, finishing as Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s leading run-scorer and the fourth-highest run-getter overall. He amassed 675 runs in 16 innings at an average of 56.25 and a strike rate of 165.84, including one century and five half-centuries, with a best score of 105*.
The 37-year-old remains one of the most accomplished ODI batters in cricket history. He is the second-highest run-scorer in the format with 14,797 runs in 299 innings at an average of 58.71, including a record 54 centuries and 77 fifties. His highest ODI score is 183.
Having retired from T20 Internationals after India’s T20 World Cup triumph in 2024 and from Test cricket in May 2025, Kohli now features exclusively in the ODI format.
Also Read: ‘Ek Bihari sab pe bhari’: Virat Kohli’s special message to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after IPL 2026 final
The veteran has continued to thrive in the 50-over format. Since the start of last year, he has scored 891 runs in 16 matches at an average of 68.53 and a strike rate of 98.45, registering four centuries and five fifties, with a highest score of 135. He was also instrumental in India’s ICC Champions Trophy-winning campaign.
Since India’s tour of Australia last year, Kohli has accumulated 616 runs in nine ODIs at an average of 88 and a strike rate of 106.39, including three centuries and three half-centuries. In his most recent ODI assignment against New Zealand earlier this year, he finished as India’s leading run-scorer with 240 runs in three matches at an average of 80.00, including a century and a fifty.
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