India reshuffles ODI line‑up as Virat Kohli misses Afghanistan series

India’s three‑match ODI series against Afghanistan, beginning on June 13 in Dharamsala, will proceed without star batter Virat Kohli, who suffered a hamstring injury during the IPL 2026 final. Bowling coach Morne Morkel described Kohli’s absence as “a big miss” and highlighted the loss of his middle‑order stability.

Rohit Sharma, cleared after his own hamstring rehab, is back in the squad and was praised for his experience and calm presence. Morkel also indicated that the team will experiment with the No. 3 batting position, evaluating Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal for the role. Additionally, fast‑bowling prospects Prince Yadav and Gurnoor Brar are in contention for international debuts later in the series.

The coaching staff’s comments underscore India’s focus on adapting the batting order and integrating new talent while coping with key player injuries ahead of the Afghanistan fixtures.