Kohli out, Jaiswal in: Former India cricketer calls it an 'embarrassment of riches'

Atul Wassan, erstwhile India cricketer believes Virat Kohli's lack from the upcoming three-match ODI bid against Afghanistan could crook retired to beryllium a blessing successful disguise for Team India. According to Wassan, the interruption volition assistance negociate Kohli's workload up of the 2027 ODI World Cup portion besides creating opportunities for emerging talents specified arsenic Yashasvi Jaiswal.Kohli has been ruled retired of the ODI bid aft sustaining a hamstring wounded during the IPL 2026 last connected May 31. Despite the injury, the prima batter remained unbeaten connected 75 and played a important relation successful Royal Challengers Bengaluru's title-winning campaign, helping the franchise unafraid back-to-back IPL trophies. What was initially believed to beryllium cramps was aboriginal confirmed to beryllium a hamstring issue.The three-match ODI bid against Afghanistan begins connected June 13 successful Dharamshala, with the remaining matches scheduled to beryllium played successful Lucknow and Chennai.

In Kohli's absence, young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has been drafted into the squad. Jaiswal past featured successful an ODI against South Africa, wherever helium scored a century.

Speaking to ANI, Wassan welcomed the determination to remainder Kohli."I'm really blessed with this quality astir Virat Kohli missing this bid against Afghanistan. I thought it would person been overkill if Virat played each azygous bid going guardant to the adjacent World Cup.

Looking astatine the strength connected his assemblage during the IPL, and him playing successful this vigor astatine his age, I deliberation it would person been pragmatic for him to instrumentality a backseat anyway," Wassan said.The erstwhile cricketer compared Kohli's workload absorption to that of gait spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and stressed the value of preserving cardinal players for large ICC tournaments."We person to instrumentality a balanced look astatine however we usage Bumrah these days.

These are the 2 guys we person to prevention successful fabric wool due to the fact that we privation to instrumentality them to the adjacent World Cup. That's wherever each squad wants its champion players disposable and performing," helium added.Wassan besides highlighted the extent of Indian cricket, pointing retired that Kohli's lack opens the doorway for a subordinate of Jaiswal's calibre."Imagine, Virat goes retired and Jaiswal comes in. Can you ideate the embarrassment of riches Indian cricket has? Even a subordinate similar Yashasvi Jaiswal is struggling to find a regular spot successful the ODI side, and present helium gets an opportunity.

I deliberation it's a win-win concern for India. I'm not adjacent a small spot bothered astir Virat not playing, and for me, it's really bully news,'' Wassan asserted. Looking ahead, Wassan emphasized that Kohli's acquisition volition beryllium captious during India's ODI circuit of England, which begins connected July 14."By the England tour, due to the fact that we're playing successful England, I deliberation we'll request him determination to rally the forces. I deliberation it's the cleanable result for us," helium concluded.Kohli enjoyed a singular IPL 2026 campaign, scoring 675 runs successful 16 matches astatine an mean of 56.25 and a career-best onslaught complaint of 165.85. India's adjacent ODI duty aft the Afghanistan bid is the circuit of England, and main selector Ajit Agarkar has indicated that Kohli could instrumentality for the bid if his betterment progresses arsenic expected successful the coming weeks.