Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul or Yashasvi Jaiswal to take over Virat Kohli’s spot in IND vs AFG 1st ODI

Virat Kohli’s number three position is up for the taking in the India vs Afghanistan ODI series. The former India all-format captain has been ruled out of his first international series in over 6 months due to a hamstring injury sustained during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season.

3-way race for Virat Kohli’s replacement

Realistically, the Indian team management has two options for the new number 3. The first is Yashasvi Jaiswal, his replacement in the squad. But Jaiswal has been a lifelong opener. Slotting him at one down isn’t a good long-term backup solution for Kohli. Ishan Kishan is the second option. He’s the backup wicketkeeper but has opened the batting for India in ODIs and even scored a double hundred in Bangladesh while opening. However, the management is considering even KL Rahul as the number three.

“Ishan Kishan or KL Rahul or Yashasvi Jaiswal… we’ll try different players at No. 3 in this series and see how it goes. It gives us an opportunity to try a few things,” India’s assistant coach Morne Morkel told reporters in Dharamshala on the eve of the first ODI.

Ishan Kishan & KL Rahul ODI stats comparison at No. 3

Morkel’s word came true. A few minutes later, Kishan was seen doing wicketkeeper drills while Rahul, who has been India’s keeper since 2023, doing outfield drills. It’s not like Rahul can’t bat in the top-order but shifting a successful middle-order batter, who’s been the best at number five, just doesn’t seem right.

Rahul has been a vital cog in India’s ODI success. His knock in the Cricket World Cup 2023 final gets criticised but he’s done a lot more than that one innings. In the Champions Trophy 2025, he was dismissed just once in 4 matches. No one averages more than him at number five since he assumed the role in early 2023. To replace him there, will be create another problem that doesn’t exist. Not only will be not create a backup for Kohli, but you might also need a backup for Rahul at five.

Most runs at No. 5 in ODIs (since 2023)

India’s squad for Afghanistan ODI series

Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma*, Yashasvi Jasiwal, Shreyas Iyer (vc), KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya*, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey
* Subject to fitness clearance

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