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Will Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma play India vs Afghanistan ODIs? Latest injury update on Ro-Ko originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Virat Kohli is reportedly set to miss India's ODI series against Afghanistan due to injury.
- Rohit Sharma might be out too since he hurt his hamstring during IPL 2026.
- While Rohit made the initial squad, his involvement relies on passing a fitness test.
- The BCCI hasn't officially pulled either player from the lineup yet.
Latest Virat Kohli injury update ahead of Afghanistan ODIs
India might have to get by without Virat Kohli for the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan, as Dainik Jagran journalist Abhishek Tripathi says he has been ruled out due to injury. Yet, the BCCI hasn't officially stated that yet.
Kohli played a huge part in Royal Challengers Bengaluru's defense of their title. Still, reports suggest that the decision of the selectors and medical team not to risk him could be in lieu of a jam-packed international schedule.
If true, Kohli’s absence would really hurt India's middle order. On the other hand, it would give younger players a chance to prove themselves in ODIs.
MORE:RCB's Jordan Cox speaks about Virat Kohli's magnanimity
Latest Rohit Sharma fitness update ahead of Afghanistan ODI series
Rohit Sharma's availability is just as unclear. He dealt with a hamstring issue during the 2026 IPL, missing some Mumbai Indians games before eventually coming back later in the tournament.
RevSportz journalist Subhayan Chakraborty suggests Rohit might skip the Afghanistan series too. This could leave India without both of their top ODI batters in Rohit and Kohli.
Unlike Kohli, Rohit was named in the ODI squad when it was released. However, reports mentioned his spot was conditional on passing fitness tests. So, whether he plays or not will probably depend on how his injury looks nearer to the series start.
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Who could replace Ro-Ko in Afghanistan ODIs?
With Virat Kohli rumored to skip the Afghanistan ODI series and Rohit Sharma still waiting for the green light on fitness, India might have to shuffle its top batting lineup.
In fact, TOI reported that selectors were apparently thinking about giving both veterans some rest to let younger players get more game time. They discussed an opening duo of Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal before the injury worries cropped up.
Other potential replacement options include Ruturaj Gaikwad, while Tilak Varma might step in if Kohli sits out. Devdutt Padikkal's recent run should keep in contention as well.
MORE:India squad for Afghanistan Test and ODI series 2026: Full team lists for IND vs AFG series
The Cricket News Opinion: Ro-Ko absence could fast-track India's ODI transition
If Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma sit out the Afghanistan ODIs, it could be a big chance for India's next stars before the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Their absence would definitely hurt the batting lineup, but it would also give the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma and Devdutt Padikkal some crucial international playtime.
The coaches were thinking about resting the veteran players soon anyway, so these injuries might just speed up that process. The temporary lineup issues could actually be helpful, letting India spot the next batters ready to shine in the coming World Cup cycle.
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