In a massive setback for Team India, their superstar batter Virat Kohli has been ruled out of the upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan. Having already transitioned away from T20Is and Test cricket, the master chaser has dedicated his remaining international career exclusively to the 50-over format, aiming for a grand swansong at the 2027 ODI World Cup. However, those blueprint plans have encountered an unexpected roadblock. Kohli sustained a hamstring injury during the high-octane IPL 2026 final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans, an affliction serious enough to force him out of the immediate international calendar.
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Yashasvi Jaiswal replaces Virat Kohli in India's ODI squad for Afghanistan series
In an effort to fill the substantial void left by the veteran, BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar confirmed that Yashasvi Jaiswal has been drafted into the ODI squad as Kohli's replacement. This crucial update was delivered during a comprehensive set of announcements from the board, which also finalized India's T20I squads for the upcoming tours of Ireland and England, alongside the selection for the Asian Games. Jaiswal is already embedded in the national camp, tuning up for India’s upcoming one-off Test match against Afghanistan in Mullanpur before shifting gears to the white-ball format.
“With Virat, at this point, it's just been less than a week since he injured himself in the finals. We will assess him (but) we don't know the timelines yet,” Ajit Agarkar said during a press conference at the BCCI headquarters.
“Yashasvi will be his replacement. But it looks like he (Kohli) might be fit for that England one-day series (in July) but again, it's not a definitive answer. So, don't hold me to it. I haven't had a clear timeline from the physio yet,” Agarkar added.
Shreyas Iyer becomes India's new T20I captain
The landscape of Indian T20I cricket has undergone a seismic shift following a series of major announcements on June 6. In a definitive move toward a new era, dynamic batter Shreyas Iyer has officially been handed the reins of India's T20I captaincy, taking over from the outgoing Suryakumar Yadav. Signaling a clear intent to usher in the next generation, the national selectors complemented this leadership transition by naming teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to the squad for India's upcoming twin tours of Ireland and England.
At the tender age of just 15 years and 71 days, Sooryavanshi’s inclusion has instantly rewritten the history books. By earning his maiden senior national call-up, the young sensation officially becomes the youngest-ever cricketer to be selected for an Indian national team. This extraordinary achievement sees him eclipse a legendary, decades-old milestone previously held by the iconic Sachin Tendulkar, instantly placing immense spotlight and expectation on the prodigy's shoulders.
The rejuvenated Indian squad is slated to kick off their European summer in Ireland, where they will contest two T20Is on June 26 and 28. Immediately following that assignment, they will travel across the channel for a rigorous five-match T20I series against England, scheduled to run from July 1 to 11. The tour represents an incredible personal redemption arc for the newly appointed skipper, as Shreyas Iyer marks his return to the national T20I frame for the first time since December 3, 2023, when he last suited up against Australia in Bengaluru.