Kohli Ruled Out, Jaiswal Called Up

Star Indian batsman Virat Kohli has been forced to miss the upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan after suffering a hamstring injury during the recently concluded IPL. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced that Yashasvi Jaiswal will replace the veteran cricketer for the series that begins on June 13.

Chief Selector Provides Update

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar confirmed the development while announcing India's squads for the upcoming T20I assignments. Speaking about Kohli's condition, Agarkar remained cautiously optimistic about his chances of featuring in the England ODIs scheduled for mid-July.

"With Virat at this point, it's just been less than a week since he injured himself in the finals. We don't know the timelines yet," Agarkar stated. "But it looks like he might be fit for that England one-day series. It's not a definitive answer, so don't hold me to it. I haven't had a clear timeline from the physio yet."

Kohli's IPL Performance

Kohli was in blistering form during the IPL season, scoring 675 runs at a strike rate of 165.85 - his best in the tournament's history - to help Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) retain their IPL crown.

Jaiswal's Opportunity

Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is not a regular in India's 50-over setup, will get another opportunity to prove his worth in ODIs. The young left-handed batsman scored an unbeaten century against South Africa in his most recent ODI appearance six months ago, which came in the absence of Shubman Gill.

Fitness Updates on Hardik and Rohit

BCCI secretary Devajith Saikia confirmed that fitness clearances for Hardik Pandya and captain Rohit Sharma are awaited before the duo can participate in the ODI series.

"Hardik is in CoE Bengaluru. He is going through a rehabilitation programme. He will soon go for the final test, and he'll be in the process of clearance. Rohit will also visit the CoE in the next two to three days. We are awaiting their final fitness clearance," Saikia confirmed.

Regarding Hardik's absence from the three T20I squads announced, Agarkar clarified that the immediate focus for the all-rounder is the 50-over format, keeping in mind the ODI World Cup in 2027.

Series Schedule

The first ODI against Afghanistan will be played on June 13 in Dharamsala. The teams will then travel to Lucknow for the second ODI on June 17, before the final game in Chennai on June 20.