With Virat Kohli ruled out due to a hamstring injury, Yashasvi Jaiswal emerges as the frontrunner to bat at No. 3; Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya cleared for selection

India’s men’s cricket team is set to experiment with both personnel and batting order in the upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan, starting June 14 in Dharamshala. This marks the first bilateral ODI series between the two nations on Indian soil, and team management is likely to hand out at least two debut caps across the rubber.

Sources close to the selection committee confirmed that Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya have received fitness clearance from the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, making them available for the series. However, Virat Kohli’s absence due to a hamstring strain has opened up the crucial No. 3 slot.

Opening Pair Sorted

Captain Shubman Gill is expected to partner Rohit Sharma at the top of the order. Gill has been in formidable touch this year, amassing 732 runs in IPL 2026 and following it up with 490 runs in 11n international innings across formats. Rohit, despite a mixed IPL campaign plagued by minor injuries, still managed 650 runs in 14 games – including two hundreds – and finished as India’s second-highest ODI run-getter in 2025.

No Kohli, Jaiswal in Contention

With Kohli ruled out, the BCCI has officially named Yashasvi Jaiswal as his replacement. The left-hander has played only four ODIs in 2025 but scored 171 runs including a century. Ishan Kishan remains an option for the middle order, though team management prefers KL Rahul at No. 5, making Jaiswal the likeliest choice for the one-drop position.

Vice-captain Shreyas Iyer is set to bat at No. 4, followed by Rahul at five and Hardik Pandya at six.

Hardik’s Form Under Scanner

IPL 2026 was a forgettable season for the Mumbai Indians all-rounder. In ten innings, Hardik scored just 206 runs and picked only four wickets across nine bowling appearances. His ability to bowl a full quota of ten overs remains an unresolved concern.

“The sports science team has cleared him for competitive cricket, but match situations will be the real test,” a team insider said. If Hardik is rested or fails to deliver, Nitish Reddy – who smashed 302 runs in 14 IPL games this year – is expected to get a look-in.

All-Rounder Puzzle

Washington Sundar and Hardik will form the core all-round foundation. Washington was impressive against Australia in the third ODI, taking four wickets, and carried that form into the home series against South Africa. In case Hardik misses out, Nitish Reddy provides a like-for-like replacement.

With Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel not part of the squad, Vidarbha’s Harsh Dubey is in line for an ODI debut. Dubey finished as the highest wicket-taker in Ranji Trophy 2024-25 with 69 scalps, playing a key role in Vidarbha’s title win.

Pacer Face-Off: Arshdeep or Prince?

Arshdeep Singh has been India’s pace mainstay across formats, but his tendency to concede extras – especially wide deliveries – remains a recurring issue. “When he loses his line, especially the wide yorker, boundaries flow to third man and fine leg,” a bowling coach familiar with his game noted.

Prince Yadav, meanwhile, has impressed with his disciplined length. The youngster claimed the prized wicket of Virat Kohli in IPL 2026 and finished with 16 wickets in 14 games at an economy of 8.83. With head coach Gautam Gambhir keen to audition new names, Prince could get the nod over Arshdeep in at least one ODI.

Gurnoor Brar, the 6-foot-5 Punjab pacer who took 11 wickets in eight Vijay Hazare matches, is also expected to feature.

Possible Playing XI

Wicketkeeper: KL Rahul  

Batters: Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain)  

All-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Harsh Dubey, Nitish Reddy  

Bowlers: Prince Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh

Series Schedule

The three ODIs will be played on June 14 (Dharamshala), June 17 (Lucknow) and June 20 (Chennai). All matches start at 1:30 PM IST.

LSG edge RCB by 9 runs in rain-hit thriller as Mitchell Marsh slams record century

 In a high-octane encounter that braved multiple rain interruptions, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) finally snapped their six-game losing streak at the Ekana Stadium, defeating defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by 9 runs. A masterclass century from Mitchell Marsh and a disciplined three-wicket haul by youngster Prince Yadav proved decisive in a contest that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final delivery.

Marsh carnage sets the tone

The evening began with local fans peering anxiously at the overcast Lucknow sky. After RCB skipper Rajat Patidar won the toss and opted to bowl, the match was almost immediately halted by a drizzle. When play resumed, Mitchell Marsh made it clear he wasn't going to let the weather dampen his rhythm. The Australian all-rounder unleashed a flurry of boundaries, racing to a 20-ball fifty.

Despite two further rain delays that eventually saw the game reduced to 19 overs per side, Marsh remained undeterred. He hammered the fastest century in LSG history, reaching the milestone in just 49 balls. By the time Josh Hazlewood finally removed him for 111, the damage was done. A late-overs blitz by Rishabh Pant, who smashed an unbeaten 32 off just 10 balls, propelled Lucknow to a formidable 209/3. Under the DLS method, RCB’s target was adjusted to 213.

Prince Yadav rattles RCB top-order

The chase started on a disastrous note for the visitors. Mohammed Shami provided the initial breakthrough, but it was Prince Yadav who stole the headlines by cleaning up Virat Kohli for a two-ball duck. The young pacer, who later revealed he had used advice given to him by Kohli himself in a previous meeting, bowled with searing pace and accuracy.

RCB found themselves reeling at 20/2 within three overs. However, the defending champions didn't go down without a fight. Captain Rajat Patidar (61 off 31) and Devdutt Padikkal (34) stitched together a rapid 95-run partnership that seemed to put Bengaluru back in the driver's seat. The Ekana crowd grew quiet as Patidar smoked a 101-meter maximum, signaling RCB's intent to chase down the massive total.

Mid-innings collapse stalls chase

Just as the game appeared to be slipping away from LSG, Prince Yadav struck again. He dismissed Padikkal and Jitesh Sharma in the same over, triggering a middle-order collapse. Shahbaz Ahmed then joined the party, removing the dangerous Patidar just as the skipper looked set to take the game deep.

"We knew we had to stick to our lengths even when they were hitting out," Prince Yadav said after the match. His 3-wicket haul effectively broke the back of the RCB chase, forcing the lower order to play catch-up against a mounting required run rate.

Last-over drama at Ekana

The tail-end of the match saw Tim David (40 off 17) and Romario Shepherd ignite a late spark. With 20 runs needed off the final 6 balls, Rishabh Pant made the unconventional choice of handing the ball to Digvesh Rathi over the more experienced Shahbaz Ahmed.

The gamble paid off. Despite Shepherd’s best efforts to find the boundary, Rathi held his nerve, conceding only 10 runs in the final over. RCB finished their 19 overs at 203/6, falling agonizingly short of the target. The victory provides a massive morale boost for LSG, even as they remain at the bottom of the table.

Looking ahead for both teams

For RCB, the loss is a minor setback in their quest for the top spot, though their superior Net Run Rate keeps them in a strong position. Captain Rajat Patidar noted that while the intent was there, the team would need to analyze the mid-inning wickets.

LSG, meanwhile, will hope this victory marks a turning point in a disappointing season. They next face Delhi Capitals, looking to carry the momentum from Marsh’s historic ton and Prince Yadav’s inspired spell.