Virat Kohli’s return to England ODIs remains on track after a positive injury update

India batsman Virat Kohli is making encouraging progress in his recovery from the hamstring injury sustained during the 2026 Indian Premier League final against Gujarat Titans, with the former India captain set for re-evaluation later this month. The 37-year-old is expected to report to the BCCI’s Center of Excellence (CoE) on June 22 for re-evaluation and further planning as he eyes a return to international cricket.

The update comes as India continue to monitor the fitness of one of their most important ODI players ahead of a a busy calendar that follows next year’s ODI World Cup in South Africa.

“Virat Kohli is progressing well from the right hamstring injury sustained in the IPL. He has been assessed by the CoE team in London and given a program to continue with the initial phase of his rehabilitation,” a source told India Today.

“It will report to the Council of Europe on 22 June 2026 for reconsideration, further planning and subsequent approval.”

Kohli has been ruled out of the ongoing ODI series against Afghanistan after he suffered an injury and was replaced by Yashasvi Jaiswal. While there were initially concerns about his availability for the upcoming England ODI series, recent updates suggest that the veteran batter remains in his rehabilitation. Virat Kohli in action for India against Australia in Sydney (Photo Reuters)

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When Kohli was initially ruled out of Afghanistan, chief selector Ajit Agarkar expressed optimism about his recovery timetable.

“It’s been less than a week with Virat since he got injured in the IPL final. We don’t know the timelines yet. But it looks like he might be fit for that England one-day series,” Agarkar said. “It’s not a definitive answer, so don’t hold me to it. I haven’t gotten a clear timeline from the physical therapist yet.”

Despite retiring from T20Is and Tests, Kohli continues to be a cornerstone of India’s ODI setup. His recent form in the format underscores his importance as he has amassed 616 runs at an amazing average of 123.20 in his last seven ODI appearances, including three centuries.

Kohli also enjoyed another prolific IPL campaign scoring 675 runs and remained in contention for the Orange Cap for most of the season before finally being overtaken by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. His record in England further highlights his value, with 1,349 runs from 33 ODIs in the country, including 12 fifties and a century.

Given Kohli’s remarkable fitness standards throughout his career, his speedy recovery came as little surprise, despite the injury coming at a stage where, at 37, he is handling the demands of international cricket.

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Published on:

20 Jun 2026 12:44 IST