India could be forced to tinker with their ODI plans for the upcoming series against Afghanistan if the fitness situation around Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma does not improve quickly enough. Kohli is expected to miss the three-match ODI assignment because of a hamstring problem, while Rohit’s participation is still unclear since he has not yet received clearance from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence. With the senior order potentially under threat, the selection group may look again at players who have built strong List A résumés and have often been discussed as ODI-ready options.
One name that stands out is Yashasvi Jaiswal. The left-handed batter made an immediate statement in his latest ODI outing, finishing unbeaten on 116 against South Africa. Even with limited exposure at the international 50-over level—four ODIs for 171 runs at an average of 57.00—his recent form has added weight to his case. Jaiswal’s domestic one-day record is even more compelling: 1,746 runs in 39 List A matches at an average of 51.35, including six centuries and seven fifties. He also carried momentum from IPL 2026, where he amassed 427 runs in 16 matches, striking at 152.50.
Ruturaj Gaikwad is another candidate who brings recent ODI success into the conversation. The right-hander struck a century in his most recent ODI innings for India against South Africa. While his overall ODI tally is still relatively small—228 runs from nine appearances—his List A output points to a steady temperament in the format. Across 99 List A matches, Gaikwad has accumulated 5,060 runs at an average of 58.83, with 20 hundreds and 19 fifties. His IPL 2026 season was less explosive than his domestic numbers, as he scored 337 runs in 16 games at an average of 28.08, with a strike rate of 123.44.
Tilak Varma also remains firmly in the mix. Although he has featured in just five ODIs and managed 68 runs, his domestic figures suggest a player with the capacity to adapt and build innings. In List A cricket, Varma has put together 1,867 runs in 47 matches at an average of 46.67, including six centuries and ten fifties. In IPL 2026, he contributed 359 runs for Mumbai Indians in the competition, maintaining a strike rate of 145.93.
Devdutt Padikkal, meanwhile, has not yet made his ODI debut for India, but his List A statistics are difficult to ignore. The Karnataka batter has scored 2,796 runs in only 42 List A matches, posting an average of 82.23, with 13 centuries and 14 fifties to his name. He also impressed in IPL 2026, where he produced 464 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of 168.73—numbers that reinforce his ability to accelerate when given the opportunity.
With the Afghanistan series now on the horizon and the availability of Kohli and Rohit hanging in the balance, India’s squad could well open up for selection based on form and proven domestic performances. If one or both senior batters are ruled out, these contenders—backed by their List A consistency and recent franchise contributions—could be among the players pushed forward to fill any vacancies.
