The national selectors are understood to be leaning towards naming Ruturaj Gaikwad as Virat Kohli’s replacement for the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan.
With Kohli unavailable for the series due to a hamstring injury, the selectors have been weighing multiple options for the batting unit. While Patidar remains firmly in contention and is likely to be accommodated in the India A setup, Gaikwad has emerged as the front-runner for a spot in the senior squad, backed by his consistent performances in domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League.
The final composition of both squads is expected to be discussed when the selection committee meets later this week.
Gaikwad had originally been drafted into the India ‘A’ squad as a replacement for Riyan Parag, who suffered an injury during the IPL. However, with a vacancy opening up in the senior ODI squad, the Maharashtra batter is now set to get a promotion.
Patidar is coming off a memorable IPL season as well. The right-handed batter led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a second successive title and finished the campaign with 501 runs, further strengthening his case for national selection.
The tri-series, featuring the ‘A’ teams of India, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, will be played in Dambulla from June 9, with Tilak Varma set to captain the Indian side.
Published on Jun 04, 2026
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