Virat Kohli Out Of IND vs ENG. Image Credits: AFP
One of India’s fittest-ever cricketers, Virat Kohli, seems to be dealing with the cycle of life, called age. Recently, reports emerged that Virat Kohli will be ruled out of the IND vs AFG ODIs due to a hamstring injury. Fresh reports have emerged which add more worry for Indian fans.
King Kohli was at his brilliant best in the IPL recently, where he was one of the key pillars behind RCB winning their historic 2nd IPL title. In a campaign that lasted for 16 gruelling encounters, Virat Kohli smashed 675 runs at an average above 50 and a strike rate par 165.
Virat Kohli lit up the IPL final
In what seemed to be his biggest knock of IPL 2026, the chase master delivered yet another reputed knock in a chase, smashing 75 runs, staying there till the end to take RCB home in the final vs the Gujarat Titans.
As they say, cometh the hour, cometh the man; Virat Kohli smashed his fastest-ever IPL fifty on the night of the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium to give RCB fans and the team an illustrious position in the IPL folklore.
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In the same IPL final, Kohli pulled his hamstring. The exact moment of injury can not be described, as he had suffered a fall and collision in the dying overs of the 1st innings. But he seemed okay when he walked out to bat.
However, through the middle of the RCB innings, the veteran batter was seen limping while running between the wickets. With multiple interruptions in play and the RCB physio treating him at regular intervals, Virat Kohli managed to stay till the last run was scored by him.
Kohli ruled out of IND vs ENG ODIs too
Earlier in the day, reports emerged that Virat Kohli has been ruled out of the IND vs AFG ODI series, which was slated to begin on June 13th. Ruturaj Gaikwad was the 1st choice candidate to replace Kohli in the Indian ODI squad.
However, the same reports suggested that King Kohli will be back in action from the IND vs ENG ODI series. The series is set to begin on 14th July, 2026, with the 2 teams taking on each other in a 3-match ODI series after competing in 5 gruelling T20Is.
Now, it has emerged that although Virat Kohli’s injury is surgery-free, he might still need more time to recover. Prominent Sports Journalist Gaurav Gupta from the Times of India claimed that Kohli will require a minimum of 6 weeks to recover from his injury
India’s Aces Losing Vital Match Time Before 2027 World Cup
2 of Indian Cricket’s hottest properties, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, seem to have lately been plagued with injuries. As the 2 superstars grow older, it is becoming challenging for them to keep up with the fitness standards required in the present volume of cricket.
While Rohit Sharma suffered a hamstring injury in the initial phase of the IPL, King Kohli also got plagued by it towards the end of the IPL. These 2 players have been the pillars of Indian cricket’s dominance across formats in the last decade.
With them ageing and getting injured time and again before the 2027 World Cup, the team management will, at some point, have to take some tough decisions. Although the 2027 World Cup seems distant, the lack of professional game time and intensity for both Virat and Rohit could prove to be detrimental.
As far as the positives are concerned, the Indian team management will get a few opportunities to test some backup options across multiple conditions in case the stalwarts suffer any last-minute injury as the World Cup approaches.
However, both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, should keep grinding in India’s domestic cricket if they are willing to remain fit in contention to be a part of India’s 2027 World Cup squad and finish the unfulfilled dreams of the 2023 World Cup.
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