IND vs AFG 2026: 3 players who can replace injured Virat Kohli in ODI squad

In a massive disappointment for the Indian team, experienced batter Virat Kohli has been ruled out of the upcoming One-Day International series against Afghanistan owing to an injury. The cricketer reportedly pulled his hamstring during the title-winning IPL 2026 campaign with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where he also hit the winning runs with his unbeaten 75 off 42 in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

With an unfortunate hamstring injury ruling the seasoned campaigner from the series at home against the neighbours, the BCCI has already started looking for a replacement for the star batter. While there are a bunch of options, not all of them might be able to fill the big shoes of Kohli, who will be supporting his side in the three-match series from the television set.

Here are 3 players who can replace Virat Kohli in India's ODI squad vs Afghanistan:

3. Yashasvi Jaiswal

A left-handed opening batter, Yashasvi Jaiswal is nowhere close to being a like-for-like replacement for Kohli in the ODI set-up. However, he has been a regular backup opener for the side for the last year or so and also impressed with a century on his debut last year. This makes him a standout option, as he is already familiar with the team culture and dressing room environment.

In just four ODI matches so far, Jaiswal has scored 171 runs at an average of 57.00 for the Men in Blue. The Bhadohi-born made his debut in the one-day format back in February 2025, but since then, a packed batting unit has seen him fill roles only in case there are injuries or unavailabilities. As a result, Jaiswal certainly is a choice the selection committee might ponder upon to replace Kohli.