Kohli sidelined with hamstring injury as Gill takes charge for India’s World Cup buildup

The Indian cricket team’s preparations for the 2027 One Day International World Cup have encountered an early setback with the exclusion of veteran batter Virat Kohli from the opening fixture against Afghanistan. Team management confirmed that Kohli has been ruled out of the first ODI in Dharamsala due to a hamstring injury, prompting a leadership change for the three-match series.

Shubman Gill has been appointed captain for the series, which begins on Saturday at the HPCA Stadium. The squad, which includes Rohit Sharma, enters the contest following a dominant performance in the one-off Test match in Mullanpur earlier this week, where India secured their largest-ever Test victory by defeating Afghanistan by an innings and 300 runs.

Kohli’s absence is a notable development given his recent form in the 50-over format. Having retired from T20 Internationals in 2024 and Test cricket in 2025, the former captain has concentrated exclusively on ODIs. Since the start of 2025, he has accumulated 891 runs at an average of 68.53, including four centuries and five half-centuries, a run of form that continued into 2026 with 240 runs in three matches against New Zealand.

The injury raises questions regarding Kohli’s availability for India’s upcoming tour of England, scheduled for July 14 to July 19. Team officials are hopeful for a swift recovery, as the England series is viewed as a critical assessment of form ahead of the World Cup. India is scheduled to play 20 ODIs before the tournament begins, with the Afghanistan series serving as the initial phase of this campaign.

The full Indian squad for the Afghanistan series features a mix of experienced players and emerging talents, including Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan, and Kuldeep Yadav. The team now faces the task of maintaining momentum from their Test success while managing the absence of one of their most prolific run-scorers in the limited-overs format.