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Virat Kohli has been ruled out of the India vs Afghanistan ODI series because of a hamstring injury during the IPL 2026 championship. New on Virat’s injury came out of nowhere as the batter looked in brilliant shape throughout the 2026 Indian Premier League season. As he will not be able to take grounds against Afghanistan, BCCI will have to find his replacement.
Rohit Sharma is another batter whose availability in the India vs Afghanistan ODI series remains under concern. Like Virat, Rohit’s uncertainty was also because of a hamstring issue, which he received during the mid-phase of IPL 2026.
Two legends, one concern: How hamstring injuries threaten Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's final World Cup dream
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are both expected to feature in the upcoming 2027 ICC ODI World Cup. As of now, the form of these two batters is not subject to concerns, as both of them are in runs and batted effortlessly in their previous ODI matches for Team India.
If we take IPL 2026 under consideration, then there will be several other players as well, who can easily move forward for selection consideration ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
More than the on-field performance, it is the fitness issues that have grown as one of the concerns for the national cricket team selectors. In the lead-up to the next ODI World Cup, both of the legends are under the scanner because of the same issue: hamstring injury.
Hamstring injuries are common in sports. But there are ways to protect their talents from injury as well. In recent times, cricket fans might have heard about the term ‘workload management’ on multiple occasions. In brief, a hamstring injury mostly occurs because of excess pressure on one of the three large muscles at the back of the thigh, which is overstretched or torn.
A large part of the Indian Premier League 2026 was played under immense heat and humid conditions, which could put effect on a player’s body. Virat Kohli played all 16 matches for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, so he had definitely taken some pressure off his shoulders.
History of Rohit Sharma's hamstring issues
Rohit Sharma has a history of hamstring injuries. Throughout his career, he had to suffer multiple times for the same reason. The latest hamstring injury Rohit received was during an IPL 2026 match against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He missed a few matches in the league before making a comeback.
Major hamstring injuries Rohit Sharma has received in his career:
During the IPL 2019 season, the opener picked up a knock in his right hamstring during a Mumbai Indians practice session before a match against the Punjab Kings. Because of the injury, he became uncertain for the 2019 World Cup, but recovered quickly.
Rohit injured his left hamstring in the following year, again during the IPL, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Due to that particular injury, he missed matches and was initially left out of India's Australia tour squads. After making a return from the injury, the batter had to deal with major criticisms regarding his fitness.
The injury ‘Hitman’ sustained in 2020 was serious, as he had to sustain the aftermath as well. That left hamstring injury forced him to miss the Australia tour, and then, during the 2021-22 season, he had to miss the South Africa tour as well. Repeated injury setbacks pushed the batter to seek recovery and workload management.
Panic spread when Rohit Sharma picked up a hamstring injury during a match against Pakistan during the 2025 Champions Trophy. He briefly left the field after picking up an injury while fielding as Pakistan batted first. Later, the opener came to bat and scored a quick-fire 20 for a winning cause.
Virat Kohli faces fresh hamstring issues
While Rohit Sharma has a history of hamstring issues, Virat Kohli missing an entire series because of an injury is rare. According to the latest reports, Kohli injured his hamstring during the IPL 2026 season. He might have played with an injury in the final match against the Gujarat Titans.
“Virat Kohli is likely to miss India's upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan due to a hamstring injury. While the exact recovery timeline remains unclear, the former India captain is expected to be unavailable for the series. It is reliably learnt that Kohli is holidaying in Europe after winning the IPL with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB),” Times of India reported on June 4.
Will fitness, not form, decide Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's 2027 World Cup fate?
Fitness and form, these are two major parameters for selection in the national cricket team. Players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who are the veterans in the sport, have played a lot of cricket and know how to deal with any bad patch that comes. Injury is such a factor that can be beyond control and prediction.
It will be wrong to think that the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel will pick some injured players for an elite tournament like the ODI World Cup. Fitness can put effect on a player’s form as well. Ahead of the 2027 World Cup, there is a lot of time in hand, so ahead of the tournament, the form and fitness of these two legends will be under the scanner.
Ajit Agarkar and Gautam Gambhir face a tough call as multiple contenders eye Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's place for the 2027 World Cup
The competition to be in the national cricket team has increased significantly. For one spot, there are multiple contenders. Players like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devdutt Padikkal, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who did well in the recent past, will be in the mix to become back-up options if someone is ruled out of the tournament for injury reasons.
The emergence of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi can also put extra pressure on Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and the team India selectors. In the IPL 2026, he has done wonders and is on the verge of making his senior cricket team debut as well in the near future. If the teenage opener does well at the senior level, then he can enter the race for the ODI World Cup 2027 selection.
