Will Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma Play vs Afghanistan? Big Ro-Ko Injury Updates on India’s ODI Stars

India’s ODI series against Afghanistan could begin without two of the biggest names in world cricket, with fresh injury concerns casting doubt over the availability of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

While neither player has been officially ruled out by the BCCI, recent reports suggest there is growing uncertainty over whether the veteran duo will feature in the three-match ODI series.

Virat Kohli Availability Remains Unclear

According to reports from Dainik Jagran journalist Abhishek Tripathi, Kohli is expected to miss the Afghanistan ODIs due to an injury concern.

However, the BCCI has not yet released any official statement confirming his withdrawal.

The timing comes after another demanding IPL campaign in which Kohli played a key role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s successful title defence. With India facing a packed international schedule over the next 18 months, the selectors and medical staff could opt for caution rather than risk aggravating any fitness issue.

If Kohli does miss the series, it would leave a significant hole in India’s middle order while simultaneously opening the door for younger batters to stake their claim ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Rohit Sharma Facing Fitness Race

Rohit Sharma’s situation appears slightly different.

The India captain was named in the ODI squad for the Afghanistan series, but his participation reportedly remains dependent on clearing fitness assessments before the opening match.

Rohit struggled with a hamstring issue during IPL 2026, missing a portion of Mumbai Indians’ campaign before returning later in the season. Reports have since suggested that the management could take a cautious approach, especially with several important assignments on the horizon.

As things stand, Rohit has not been ruled out and remains part of the squad, making him more likely to feature than Kohli unless further fitness concerns emerge.

So, Will Ro-Ko Play?

At the moment, the answer remains uncertain.

Virat Kohli

• Reportedly set to miss the series due to injury
• No official BCCI confirmation yet
• Availability currently doubtful

Rohit Sharma

• Included in India’s ODI squad
• Recovering from a hamstring issue suffered during IPL 2026
• Must pass fitness tests before being cleared to play

Based on the latest reports, Rohit’s chances of featuring appear stronger than Kohli’s, though neither situation has been officially resolved.

Who Could Replace Them?

India already appear to be planning for the future, and the Afghanistan series could become an opportunity to test younger players in ODI cricket.

Several names are in contention if one or both veterans miss out:

Potential Top-Order Replacements

• Shubman Gill
• Yashasvi Jaiswal
• Ruturaj Gaikwad

Middle-Order Options

• Tilak Varma
• Devdutt Padikkal

A Gill-Jaiswal opening combination has reportedly been discussed by selectors, while Tilak and Padikkal could benefit from additional opportunities in the middle order.

What It Means For India’s ODI Future

If both Rohit and Kohli sit out, the Afghanistan series could offer an early glimpse into India’s post-Ro-Ko ODI transition.

The pair remain central figures in India’s plans for the 2027 World Cup, but the selectors have also made it clear they want to build depth around the next generation of batters.

For players such as Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devdutt Padikkal, the series could represent a valuable chance to strengthen their World Cup credentials.

For now, Indian fans will have to wait for official confirmation from the BCCI, but as things stand, Rohit Sharma remains a possibility for the Afghanistan ODIs, while Virat Kohli’s participation appears far less likely.