Star India batter Virat Kohli faces the possibility of missing not only the ODI matches against Afghanistan but also the subsequent England tour after a hamstring injury picked up around the IPL 2026 final. The concern, as reported, is tied to the length of his recovery and the rehabilitation schedule following a medical review of his scans.
Key takeaways
- Virat Kohli’s hamstring injury could keep him out for at least six weeks, affecting the next international window.
- Kohli tore his hamstring but is not expected to need surgery, with a rehab-heavy recovery plan instead.
- His healing and rehabilitation are understood to involve time at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
- Rohit Sharma is expected to start his fitness assessment at the BCCI CoE in Bengaluru on June 8.
- Rohit’s participation in the ODI series will depend entirely on the results of his fitness tests.
- Rohit is scheduled to join the India squad in Dharamshala on June 11 for the first ODI versus Afghanistan on June 13.
Kohli’s hamstring setback and the recovery timeline
It has been widely reported that Kohli was ruled out of the ODI series against Afghanistan after suffering a hamstring injury during the IPL 2026 final. In that title match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans, Kohli finished unbeaten on 75 and helped his side secure the win.
The latest update suggests the injury could be more than a short layoff. The report states Kohli has a hamstring tear, and that it will not require surgery. Instead, he is expected to follow a rehabilitation program lasting roughly six weeks to allow the injury to settle properly.
As part of his return-to-play process, Kohli is understood to undergo rehab at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Before that, he also reportedly arranged a tele-consultation with renowned orthopaedic surgeon Dr Dinshaw Pardiwalla at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai, where his MRI scans were reviewed.
Because of the expected duration of recovery, Kohli’s availability for the three-match ODI series in England is now in question. That series is scheduled to begin on July 14 in Birmingham, and Kohli may miss the tour if he is still not match-ready by then.
Rohit Sharma’s fitness assessment and ODI schedule
Alongside Kohli’s fitness concerns, the report also provided an update on Rohit Sharma’s preparation. Rohit is expected to report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru on June 8 to undergo a fitness assessment ahead of the ODI series against Afghanistan.
Rohit was included in the ODI squad, but the account makes it clear that his final availability will be determined by how he performs in the scheduled fitness tests. The report also notes that Rohit suffered a hamstring injury during IPL 2026 and subsequently missed multiple matches for Mumbai Indians.
In the proposed plan, Rohit is set to spend three days at the CoE. During that period, he is understood to have a few sessions lined up, including batting under lights at one of the grounds. After the assessment phase, he is expected to join the Indian team in Dharamshala on June 11, which is two days before the first ODI against Afghanistan on June 13.
