- By Talibuddin Khan
- Thu, 04 Jun 2026 01:21 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
India vs Afghanistan ODIs: In a major blow to the Men in Blue, batting stalwart Virat Kohli has been ruled out of the upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan at home due to a hamstring injury. Kohli, known for his unmatched fitness even at 37 years of age, smashed 675 runs in the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL 2026), steering his team (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) to win the second consecutive title.
It is extremely rare for Virat Kohli to miss a game due to an injury, as he is one of the fittest sportsmen in the world. Though the former India captain is now a one-format player, he remains a top draw for fans worldwide.
Kohli's injury became public when he was seen struggling during the final stages of the IPL 2026 final between RCB and GT at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. However, despite the struggles, King Kohli led from the front to take his team over the line in a tricky 156-run chase, and amassed a 42-ball 75* in the final.
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With the official confirmation from the BCCI still awaited, all eyes will be on who will replace Kohli for the ODI series against Afghanistan. Here are three players who could potentially replace Virat Kohli.
IND vs AFG ODIs: 3 Players Who Could Replace Virat Kohli
1. Yashasvi Jaiswal
Young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal tops the list of contenders to replace Virat Kohli in the ODI squad. Jaiswal was part of India's most recent ODI squad against New Zealand but did not get an opportunity to feature in any of the matches.
His last ODI appearance came against South Africa on December 6, 2025, where he scored an impressive 116 runs. He also enjoyed a productive IPL 2026 campaign, scoring 427 runs in 16 matches for Rajasthan Royals.
(Image Credits: IPLT20.COM)
2. Sai Sudharsan
Left-handed batter Sai Sudharsan is another strong candidate to fill Kohli's spot in the ODI squad. Sudharsan has represented India in ODIs before, making an immediate impact by scoring 127 runs in three matches, including two half-centuries.
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He was among the standout performers in IPL 2026, finishing as the tournament's third-highest run-scorer. Playing for the Gujarat Titans, he amassed 722 runs in 17 matches, including one century and eight fifties.
(Image Credits: IPLT20.COM)
3. Devdutt Padikkal
Karnataka batter Devdutt Padikkal could also be in contention for a call-up as Kohli's replacement. He impressed in domestic cricket, scoring 725 runs in nine matches in the 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy. Padikkal also carried his form into IPL 2026, where he scored 464 runs in 16 matches for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, registering three half-centuries.
(Image Credits: PTI)
India vs Afghanistan ODI: Squad
Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma*, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), KL Rahul (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya*, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey.