Yashasvi Jaiswal Replaces Injured Virat Kohli for Afghanistan ODIs; Rohit and Hardik Await Fitness Clearance

Mumbai, June 2026: Young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has been drafted into India’s squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan after senior batter Virat Kohli was ruled out due to a hamstring injury sustained during the IPL 2026 final.

The series, scheduled to begin on June 13 in Dharamsala, will now provide Jaiswal another opportunity to strengthen his credentials in the 50-over format, while India’s selectors continue to monitor the fitness of captain Rohit Sharma and all-rounder Hardik Pandya ahead of the assignment.

Kohli suffered the injury while playing a pivotal role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s victorious IPL 2026 final against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad. Despite visible discomfort, the veteran batter produced an unbeaten 75 to guide his side to the title. However, the injury to his right hamstring has reportedly worsened in the days following the final, forcing him to withdraw from the Afghanistan series.

Speaking after the selection meeting at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai on Saturday, chief selector Ajit Agarkar said the team management was hopeful that Kohli would recover in time for the ODI series against England scheduled for July.

“It has only been a few days since the injury occurred during the IPL final. We are still awaiting a detailed assessment from the medical team. At this stage, it appears he could be available for the England ODIs, but we do not have a definitive timeline yet,” Agarkar said.

Jaiswal’s inclusion marks a significant opportunity for the left-handed batter, whose last ODI appearance came against South Africa in Visakhapatnam in December 2025. On that occasion, he announced himself in style by scoring an unbeaten 116, registering his maiden international century in the format.

The selectors have also retained Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya in the squad, although both players remain subject to final fitness clearance from the BCCI medical team.

Pandya has been undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru since June 2 after a back injury sidelined him during the latter stages of IPL 2026. Rohit, meanwhile, is expected to report to the Centre of Excellence within the next few days after recovering from a hamstring issue that forced him to miss several matches for Mumbai Indians during the IPL season.

Agarkar confirmed that both players are progressing through the standard rehabilitation process.

“We follow the usual procedure with injured players. Their inclusion depends on receiving final fitness clearance from the medical staff,” he said.

The Afghanistan series will begin in Dharamsala on June 13 before moving to Lucknow for the second ODI on June 17. The third and final match of the series will be played in Chennai on June 20.

Following the completion of the Afghanistan assignment, the selectors are expected to announce India’s squad for the important ODI series against England, which forms part of the team’s preparations for upcoming global tournaments.

With Kohli sidelined and senior players racing against time to prove their fitness, the Afghanistan series could provide younger players such as Jaiswal an important platform to stake a claim for a permanent place in India’s ODI setup.