Ananya Lohia , New Delhi - India have suffered a major setback ahead of their ODI series against Afghanistan, with star batter Virat Kohli reportedly ruled out due to a hamstring injury. The injury delays his return to international cricket after a successful IPL 2026 campaign with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

According to a PTI report, Kohli will miss the three-match ODI series beginning on June 13 in Dharamsala. A BCCI source confirmed that the former India captain has been sidelined after sustaining a hamstring injury. The 37-year-old was in outstanding form during IPL 2026 and played a crucial role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru's title-winning campaign. Kohli finished the tournament as RCB's leading run-scorer with 675 runs in 16 innings at an average of 56.25 and a strike rate of 165.84. He also scored a match-winning half-century in the final against Gujarat Titans, helping RCB secure their second consecutive IPL trophy. Kohli's absence comes at a significant time, with the Afghanistan series expected to mark the beginning of India's preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup. His recent performances in the 50-over format had reaffirmed his value to the national side following his retirement from T20 Internationals and Test cricket.

In 2025, Kohli emerged as the highest run-scorer in ODIs, accumulating 651 runs in 13 innings at an average of 65.10. His impressive tally included four centuries and three fifties, while he also played a key role in India's successful ICC Champions Trophy campaign. The veteran batter regained the No. 1 position in the ICC ODI rankings and was named Player of the Series against South Africa. To further strengthen his case for the 2027 World Cup, Kohli returned to domestic cricket in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he scored 208 runs in just two matches. His performances included a brilliant 131 against Andhra and a half-century against Gujarat, during which he also became the fastest batter to reach 16,000 List A runs.

Meanwhile, the availability of captain Rohit Sharma for the entire Afghanistan series remains uncertain. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar had earlier stated that Rohit's participation would depend on his recovery from a hamstring injury that hampered his IPL season. With Kohli ruled out and Rohit Sharma's fitness still under observation, India face an early challenge ahead of an important ODI series that could shape their road to the 2027 World Cup.