Star Indian batter, Virat Kohli is set to provide India with a much-needed boost before the upcoming ODIs against England as there are reports which show that he is making good progress in his recovery from a hamstring injury. As Kohli had to sit out of the current three ODIs between India and Afghanistan due to his injury, it appears that the batsman will return to action when ENG will lock horns with IND for their upcoming ODI series which begins on July 14. According to reports, his rehab session has been going well for him, thus putting the fear of losing him for the team due to the rare injury he sustained in the last IPL 2026 final at bay.

It may be noted that Kohli missed the three ODIs being played between India and Afghanistan due to the injury he sustained in the final of IPL 2026 which was diagnosed to be a rare hamstring tendon injury. It was Yashasvi Jaiswal who made it to the team in place of Kohli.

How Did Virat Kohli Suffer the Injury?

Kohli picked up the injury during the IPL 2026 final, where he played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against the Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad. Even though he showed signs of discomfort towards the end of his innings, he managed to stay unbeaten at 75, leading RCB to a thrilling victory. However, follow-up scans showed he had a distal semimembranosus tendon tear, which is a pretty rare hamstring injury that affects the tendon near the back of the knee.

Medical professionals find this injury unusual since most hamstring tears typically happen higher up the leg. Reports indicate that Kohli has been advised to take it easy and focus on rehabilitation instead of rushing back into the game. As a precautionary measure, the BCCI decided to leave him out of the Afghanistan series. This choice was made with an eye on the longer international schedule, especially considering India's ODI commitments as they gear up for the 2027 World Cup.

India to tour England for multi-format series starting on July 1

India's next ODI challenge is set to unfold in England, kicking off a three-match series on July 14 in Birmingham. The action will then shift to Cardiff and London for the remaining games. This tour is anticipated to play a crucial role in India's long-term strategy as they gear up for the upcoming ODI World Cup.

Having Kohli back in the squad would bring a wealth of experience and stability to India's batting order. The seasoned batter is one of the most accomplished players in the format, boasting an impressive 14,797 runs in 311 ODIs at an average of 58.72, which includes a remarkable 54 centuries. His recent form in ODIs has been quite strong, with several hundreds in India's last few assignments. If his recovery continues on this positive trajectory, Kohli is poised to make his return in England and chase even more milestones in international cricket.