BCCI names THIS IPL captain as Virat Kohli's replacement for IND vs AFG ODIs - Reports
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India will play a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan starting June 13.
India are set to meet Afghanistan for three ODIs in June. Shubman Gill will be leading the side, with Shreyas Iyer being appointed his deputy. Harsh Dubey, Gurnoor Brar, and the pace sensation from IPL, Prince Yadav, earned their maiden call-ups.
While the veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were named in the squad, their availability will depend on fitness.
Rohit Sharma picked up a hamstring injury during the Indian Premier League (IPL) and also missed a few games. He was set to report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) for his fitness test.
Kohli featured throughout the IPL season with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). He was RCB’s leading run-scorer, and his crucial innings played a key role in RCB’s title-winning campaign. In IPL 2026, Kohli scored 675 runs with a strike rate of 165.
However, in the IPL final, Virat was seen suffering from severe hamstring pain. He was unable to run quickly between the wickets, and the injured area was heavily strapped. He batted throughout the innings, and even hit the winning runs.
According to a report by RevSportz, Kohli has sustained a distal semimembranosus tendon tear, which takes nearly two months to recover. Virat is highly likely to miss the ODI series against Afghanistan.
Ruturaj Gaikwad is likely to replace Virat Kohli in the ODI squad
The Chennai Super Kings skipper, Ruturaj Gaikwad, is likely to be picked in the ODI squad for the Afghanistan series, replacing injured Virat Kohli.
Gaikwad had a record-breaking Vijay Hazare Trophy season, scoring 413 runs at a staggering average of 82. He made two centuries in the season and became the fastest player in professional cricket history to reach 20 List A centuries (in 95 innings).
Gaikwad had last featured in the ODI series against South Africa in 2025, where he scored a scintillating century alongside Virat Kohli. He had an underwhelming IPL season as a batsman and captain, finishing 7th in the points table and scoring 337 runs at a strike rate of 120.
Ruturaj was named the vice-captain in the Tri-nation A series in Sri Lanka, replacing injured Riyan Parag. However, if Ruturaj replaces Virat in the India vs Afghanistan ODI series squad, Rajat Patidar will likely replace Ruturaj in the India A squad.
India are set to play 20 ODI internationals ahead of the next IPL, including away tours to England and a five-match series against New Zealand.
When will the India vs Afghanistan ODI series start?
India vs Afghanistan three-match ODI series is set to commence on 13 June in Dharamshala.
Will Virat Kohli play the ODI series against Afghanistan?
Virat Kohli is likely to miss the ODI series against Afghanistan due to his hamstring injury.
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Cricket runs in the blood of Indians — and that’s something she truly believes in. A law student with a lifelong connection to the game, she has followed cricket passionately since his school days. Like countless young fans, she first experienced the sport on the field before deepening his understanding through constant watching, reading, and conversations around the game. Writing became a natural extension of that passion, bringing a “Pavilion Perspective” to his work — capturing how fans experience matches through their own lens.