Ruturaj Gaikwad is reportedly set to replace Virat Kohli in India’s ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series against Afghanistan, following a hamstring injury that has ruled Kohli out. Virat Kohli sustained a right hamstring injury during the IPL 2026 final on May 31, where he anchored Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to their second consecutive IPL title with an unbeaten 75.
While Kohli's renowned physical fitness kept him on the field during the final, the hamstring strain aggravated post-match. The BCCI medical team has mandated a strict two-week rest and rehabilitation block. Kohli has transitioned away from Test and T20 international cricket, ODIs are the only format he actively plays for India. This injury completely zeroes out his competitive cricket until later in the year.
The BCCI selection committee, led by the need for a structurally stable number 3 or 4 batter, pivoted immediately to Ruturaj Gaikwad. Selectors view Gaikwad as a batsman with the temperament and technical framework to handle spin and slow pitches, mirroring Kohli’s anchor role in 50-over cricket.
Though historically an opener, Gaikwad heavily reinforced his credentials by hitting a scintillating ODI century while batting in the middle order during India's tour of South Africa. Gaikwad had initially been left out of the original 15-man squad against Afghanistan, sparking massive fan backlash on social media. Kohli's sudden vacancy offered a direct path to correct his omission.
Rajat Patidar replaces Ruturaj Gaikwad in India A Tri-series squad
The sudden reshuffling between the senior national team and the shadow India A team represents a highly calculated, multi-tiered strategy by the BCCI selection committee. Vice-captain Riyan Parag was ruled out for three months with a severe hamstring injury sustained during IPL 2026. The selectors quickly named Ruturaj Gaikwad as Parag's replacement and appointed him vice-captain of the India A squad under captain Tilak Varma.
Just days later, Virat Kohli was ruled out of the Afghanistan ODI series due to a hamstring strain suffered during the same IPL final. To fill Kohli's elite anchor role, selectors pulled Gaikwad completely out of the India A tour and fast-tracked him to the senior side. This left the newly adjusted India A squad with another vacant spot, which has now been handed to Rajat Patidar.
Rajat Patidar's inclusion is not just a random selection; it is a direct reward for masterminding one of the most successful leadership turnarounds in recent cricket history. During the IPL 2026 season, Patidar was in lethal touch, hammering 501 runs at a staggering 192.69 strike rate.
Because Gaikwad was slated to be the vice-captain and a senior voice in the India A team, selectors needed a player with immediate, elite leadership credentials to maintain the team's structural maturity. While Gaikwad relies on traditional accumulation, Patidar is widely celebrated as one of India's most fearless, elite destroyers of spin bowling. In Sri Lankan conditions which traditionally favor slow turners, Patidar provides the middle-order armor India A needs to dismantle opposing spin attacks.
