Virat Kohli doubtful ahead of IND vs ENG ODI series, set for fitness test

What is Virat Kohli's injury? Here's what we know about his fitness concerns before the England ODIs

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.