India vs Afghanistan 1st ODI 2026: Who Replaces Virat Kohli in Playing XI?

With Virat Kohli injured for 1st ODI vs Afghanistan, here’s our predicted India XI and key selection decisions for the 2026 series opener.

There has been so much T20 cricket over the last 12 months that it’s hard to remember the last time India played an ODI series. Such has been the decline of the 50-over format that bilateral ODI cricket rarely captures the same excitement as it once did. For the record, India’s last ODI assignment came against New Zealand in January 2026, and it was far from a memorable campaign. Despite having experienced stalwarts like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the lineup, India suffered a disappointing 1-2 series defeat at home.

Now, as India prepare to take on Afghanistan in the 1st ODI of the three-match series, the team will once again face a significant challenge. Not only will Virat Kohli be unavailable, but several other senior players are also missing, forcing the management to test the depth of India’s ODI squad ahead of the ODI World Cup 2027. Aside from Virat Kohli, the team will be without stalwarts like Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah. 

With so many key players missing, how will the young guns respond in the ODI series? The ODI series will be the first step post the T20 World Cup, as India prepare for the biggest showdown next year, the 2027 ODI World Cup. So, let’s analyse the current squad list, and look at India vs Afghanistan 2026 1st ODI, both teams’ best predicted playing 11, in the absence of Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, and Jasprit Bumrah. 

Key Match Details

Tournament: India vs Afghanistan 2026

Match Details: 1st ODI Match

Where: Dharamsala

When: June 13, 1:30 pm

India vs Afghanistan 2026 Indian Team Full Official ODI Squad List

Batters

• Rohit Sharma
• Shreyas Iyer
• Shubman Gill (c)
• Yashasvi Jaiswal

Wicket-keepers

• Ishan Kishan
• KL Rahul

All-rounders

• Harsh Dubey
• Nitish Reddy
• Washington Sundar

Bowlers

• Arshdeep Singh
• Gurnoor Brar
• Prasidh Krishna
• Prince Yadav
• Kuldeep Yadav

Let’s start with the most important question: Who replaces Virat Kohli in India’s Playing XI for the 2026 1st ODI against Afghanistan? Virat Kohli will be a massive miss for India, especially considering that ODI cricket is currently the only format he plays for the national team. His experience, consistency, and ability to anchor the innings make him one of India’s most valuable players in the 50-over format. 

With Kohli unavailable, the most logical replacement is Yashasvi Jaiswal. While there could be a temptation to bring Ishan Kishan into the Playing XI, given that he was part of the squad earlier, promoting Kishan to the No. 3 position may not be the ideal move. Jaiswal is a natural top-order batter and has shown tremendous promise whenever given opportunities for India. Therefore, he remains the frontrunner to replace Kohli in the batting lineup.

With a settled opening combination of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, Jaiswal should slot in at No. 3. The No. 4 and No. 5 positions also appear well settled, with vice-captain Shreyas Iyer expected to bat at No. 4 and Wicket-keeper KL Rahul at No. 5. Even without Kohli, India still possesses a strong and experienced top five. Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul are also in prime form, and with Iyer also being named as the T20I Captain, the responsibility only multiplies. 

Who replaces Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja?

However, the real challenge begins from the No. 6 position onward. India will be without the all-round capabilities of Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja, two players who have played crucial roles in balancing the ODI side over the years. In their absence, the team management may have to rely on younger players to fill those important roles. Washington Sundar has established himself as a dependable batting all-rounder and should continue in the XI at No. 7.

Meanwhile, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harsh Dubey could be entrusted with the responsibility of filling the void left by Pandya and Jadeja. Both players offer valuable all-round skills and represent India’s next generation of multi-dimensional cricketers. Additionally, with Harshit Rana not part of the squad, India may not hesitate to play either Sundar or Dubey at No. 8 to strengthen the bowling attack. Had Harshit been available, he could have been a strong contender for the No. 8 position as a bowling all-rounder.

Prince Yadav vs Prasidh Krishna, who gets the nod?

Coming to the bowling department, India will also miss the services of two premier fast bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. While Bumrah has been rested as part of workload management, Siraj was recently advised to take a break and was subsequently left out of the squad. In their absence, Arshdeep Singh should lead India’s pace attack. The left-arm pacer has consistently impressed in limited-overs cricket, and will have the responsibility of spearheading the bowling unit.

Prince Yadav looks the most likely candidate to partner with him as the second specialist pacer. Prince was very impressive in IPL 2026, and was one of the leading wicket-takers there. Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav should continue to lead India’s spin attack. The left-arm wrist-spinner has been India’s most effective spinner in ODI cricket over the last few years and will be expected to play a key role against Afghanistan’s batting lineup.

India vs Afghanistan 2026 1st ODI Best Predicted Playing 11

1. Shubman Gill (c)
2. Rohit Sharma
3. Yashasvi Jaiswal
4. Shreyas Iyer
5. KL Rahul (wk)
6. Nitish Reddy
7. Washington Sundar
8. Harsh Dubey
9. Prince Yadav
10. Kuldeep Yadav
11. Arshdeep Singh

Afghanistan’s batting will be led by the opening pair of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, who have been their most reliable ODI combination in recent years. The middle order of Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi provides stability and experience. Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, and Rashid Khan form a strong finishing unit capable of accelerating the scoring rate in the latter stages. Afghanistan’s biggest strength remains its spin attack, with Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, and Nabi expected to play key roles. Meanwhile, Fareed Malikzai and Bilal Sami should lead the pace attack, with Omarzai providing additional seam-bowling support.

India vs Afghanistan 2026 1st ODI Best Predicted Playing 11

1. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk)
2. Ibrahim Zadran
3. Sediqullah Atal
4. Rahmat Shah
5. Hashmatullah Shahidi (c)
6. Azmatullah Omarzai
7. Mohammad Nabi
8. Rashid Khan
9. AM Ghazanfar
10. Fareed Malikzai
11. Bilal Sami

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