Virat Kohli has suffered a hamstring injury and is out of the ODI series against Afghanistan according to PTI. The series was set to mark the start of India's preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup, and hence Virat Kohli will now be left out of that and could be the first step.
Nature of the Injury
The exact severity of the hamstring tear is yet to be confirmed, but sources say it occurred during a training session earlier this week. The veteran batter has been advised to rest and undergo rehabilitation and is out of the three-match ODI series that is due to take place later this month. Kohli’s supreme form over the past months has made him indispensable to the series, both in the form of a senior batsman and a mentor to the younger players in the team.
A blow to World Cup plans. The Afghanistan series was never just about the results. For the Indian think tank (under head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill), this was to be the first step of building a team for World Cup 2027. Kohli’s experience and consistency in the 50-over format—he has scored over 14,000 runs with 50 centuries—are almost irreplaceable.
His absence leaves a huge void in the middle order. The team management will now have to fast-track younger players or rearrange the batting order to make up for the loss of him.
What is the next step for Kohli’s replacement? The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to select Kohli’s replacement very soon. Rajat Patidar or Ruturaj Gaikwad could be the one to get the call-up.
For Kohli, he will first be focusing on recovery and fitness. The limited overs team will be taking care not to rush him back, and with a busy international calendar ahead, including the Test series later in the year, they will be more careful. As India begins its long march toward 2027, they will have to do so at least for now without their most experienced warrior.
