Virat Kohli doubtful ahead of IND vs ENG ODI series, set for fitness test
Star Indian batter Virat Kohli is doubtful for the IND vs ENG ODI series as he prepares for a final fitness test to decide his availability for selection.
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India’s preparations for the white-ball tour of England have taken a setback, with star batter Virat Kohli now doubtful for the ODI series due to injury concerns.
The former India captain is already missing the ongoing IND vs AFG ODI series after suffering a hamstring injury during the IPL 2026 final, where Royal Challengers Bengaluru defended their title. Kohli remains sidelined as he continues his recovery and is expected to undergo a fitness test on June 22, which will decide his availability for the England tour.
The England series is set to begin on July 1, starting with five T20Is, followed by a three-match ODI series later in the month. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has already announced the T20I squad, while the ODI squad is expected to be revealed soon.
What is Virat Kohli's injury? Here's what we know about his fitness concerns before the England ODIs
Virat Kohli is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury that he picked up during the IPL 2026 final, where Royal Challengers Bengaluru successfully defended their title. The injury has kept the star batter out of action since then, and he is still under recovery.
The star Indian batter was also selected for the Afghanistan series but had to withdraw due to the same hamstring issue. His participation in the upcoming England tour now depends on his fitness clearance, which will be decided after a scheduled assessment.
See also -On this day: Virat Kohli made his Test debut — How far he's come since that first cap in 2011
As per reports, a member of the CoE sports science team recently travelled to the United Kingdom to check Kohli’s fitness status and prepare a rehabilitation plan. Kohli, who currently lives in London with his family, is expected to report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) on June 22 for a full re-evaluation before further decisions are made.
Fitness test date confirmed — Here's the deadline that will decide Kohli's fate for the England series
Virat Kohli is recovering from a hamstring niggle he picked up during the IPL final against the Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad. His fitness will be closely monitored ahead of the England series, with a final test scheduled to decide his availability.
“Virat will get the fitness clearance after a fitness test on Monday in Bengaluru. Before that, he is doing a promotional event in Delhi on Sunday,” a BCCI source aware of developments told PTI.
Earlier, the Centre of Excellence (CoE) sports science team in London had assessed Kohli and advised him to continue his rehabilitation program. He has been asked to report back on June 22, 2026, for re-evaluation and final clearance before the selectors take a final call.
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Incidentally, during India’s Test tour of England in 2025, Kohli’s fitness was also reviewed by the support staff after he had already announced his retirement from red-ball cricket.
Not only Virat Kohli, but Hardik Pandya is also facing a setback ahead of the England tour. The all-rounder has been ruled out of the ODI series as he has not recovered from the quadriceps strain he suffered before the Afghanistan ODI series. He is still not fit to bowl his full quota of overs, forcing the team management to leave him out of the squad.
If Kohli misses the England series, who steps in? India's backup options revealed
If Virat Kohli misses the England tour, one of the strongest contenders to replace him could be his RCB teammate and captain, Rajat Patidar. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper had a standout IPL 2026 season, guiding his team to their maiden IPL title while also impressing with the bat. Patidar scored 501 runs in 15 matches at an average of 41.75 and an impressive strike rate of 192.69.
Another option India can consider is Yashasvi Jaiswal. In that case, Jaiswal could open alongside Rohit Sharma, while Shubman Gill would move to No. 3. Jaiswal has shown strong ODI form in recent matches, scoring 231 runs in 6 innings at an average of 57.8 and a strike rate of 92.8, including one century and one fifty.
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Sai Sudharsan is another left-handed option who could come into the side in place of Kohli. He had an excellent IPL 2026 season with the Gujarat Titans, scoring 722 runs in 17 matches at an average of 45.12 and a strike rate of 157.98, showing both consistency and attacking intent. He has also been on the selectors’ radar for upcoming tours, including opportunities in England conditions.
Ultimately, squad selection is never an easy task, especially when several players deliver strong performances in the IPL. While the selectors have shown trust in a younger and more aggressive core for the England and Ireland series, the final combination will depend on form, balance, and conditions.
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