India have been left needing to replace key player Virat Kohli for the ODI squad set to take on Afghanistan in a three-match series, after he suffered a hamstring injury. The series will see young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal replace Kohli in the squad.

The injury occurred while leading Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2026 when the franchise topped the table to lift the trophy. The veteran batter suffered pain during the finals and is still recovering.. India’s chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar has, meanwhile, confirmed that Kohli will not play in the Afghanistan series but there is doubt about him returning fit for India’s ODI tour to England next month.

Agarkar was quoted as saying that the medical team has given no timeline about Kohli’s return. The signs were positive but selectors will not rush the experienced batter back until he is ready.

After his exits from both Test and T20 International tenth team, Kohli sees his hundred per cent on 50-over format. His last ODI (One Day International) player in 2023 for India was against New Zealand, where he scored the most runs for India in. He continued that fine run in IPL 2026, scoring 675 runs and being one of the stars of a triumphant Bengaluru team.

On the other hand, Jaiswal gets another chance to make a place for himself in the 50-over format. The left-handed batter has so far played four ODIs for India since his debut in 2025. He was most impressive against South Africa towards the end of last year, scoring an unbeaten hundred. Selectors will hope this can be a rare opportunity for him in the absence of Kohli.

It was also learnt that the fitness of a few senior players are being monitored before the series. Hardik Pandya is being assessed at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, and Rohit Sharma should be fit after overcoming a hamstring problem which ended his part in the IPL season prematurely.

India’s three-match ODI series against Afghanistan begins on June 13 in Dharamsala, with matches in Lucknow (June 17) and Chennai (June 20). The team for the following ODI series against England will be announced after the Afghanistan assignment.

India’s ODI squad vs Afghanistan

Shubman Gill (capt), Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer (vice-capt), KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey