Virat Kohli ‘healing quickly’, on track to return for England ODIs: Report

Virat Kohli is likely to regain fitness in time for the three-match ODI series against England, starting July 14.

Updated on: Jun 19, 2026, 15:11:22 IST

Written by Aditya Bhattacharya

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Virat Kohli's recovery is faring better than expected, and if all goes as planned, the star batter is likely to be fit for the England ODIs starting next month. The three-match series will follow the five T20Is, with matches to be played in Birmingham, Cardiff and Lord's on July 14, 16 and 19, respectively. As per a report in the Times of India, Kohli, who picked up a hamstring injury during the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) final on May 31, is expected to be fit by the time the series begins.

Expect to see Kohli back in action next month (AFP)

“Kohli has started his rehabilitation, and his injury is healing quickly. He is expected to report to the BCCI centre of excellence for his fitness assessment and clearance soon. If his recovery goes as planned, Kohli is expected to return to the team in the upcoming England series. The selection committee meeting to pick India's ODI team for the England tour will be held in the next 3 to 4 days,” TOI quoted a BCCI source as saying.

It is rare for Kohli to get injured, which is why it came as a surprise to see him pick up a hamstring injury. Then again, at 37, the body does show signs of wear and tear. However, given the specimen that Kohli is, his swift recovery is a testament to his exceptional fitness. Kohli remains a key part of India's plans for next year's ODI World Cup in South Africa, and despite having retired from T20Is and Tests, he has shown no signs of rust.

In his last seven ODIs, Kohli has amassed 616 runs at an incredible average of 123.20, including three centuries. He followed it with another outstanding IPL season, scoring 675 runs. He was a strong contender for the Orange Cap before Vaibhav Sooryavanshi claimed the award with a breakout campaign.

Kohli's record in England

Kohli’s ODI record in England is impressive, with the batter having scored 1349 runs from 33 matches, including 12 fifties and a hundred. It was in this country that Kohli led India to a semi-final finish at the 2019 World Cup, where his tally stood at 443 runs.

When Kohli was ruled out of the Afghanistan ODIs and eventually replaced by Yashasvi Jaiswal, BCCI chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar sounded optimistic about Kohli’s return in time for the England series. "With Virat, it's just been less than a week since he injured himself in the IPL final. We don't know the timelines yet. But it looks like he might be fit for that England one-day series. It's not a definitive answer, so don't hold me to it. I haven't had a clear timeline from the physio yet," he had said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aditya Bhattacharya
Aditya Bhattacharya is the Sports Editor at Hindustan Times Digital, with close to 15 years of experience in sports journalism. Over the course of his career, he has worked with leading media organisations including Cricbuzz, The Times of India, Network18 and Zee. Primarily a cricket writer, Aditya has covered several marquee events, including the 2016 ICC World T20, the 2019 ICC World Cup in England and the 2023 World Cup in India. His reporting portfolio also includes international cricket across England, South Africa and New Zealand, along with forays into tennis, including coverage of the Australian Open. He has interviewed several prominent athletes across sports. Aditya began his career with a brief stint at CricketNext before getting his first major break at Cricbuzz, where he was part of the Times Network’s startup venture GoCricket, which later merged with Cricbuzz. After nearly 18 months there, he moved to The Times of India, covering his first World Cup assignment and reporting first-hand on landmark moments such as Virat Kohli’s iconic innings against Australia in Mohali. During his three-year tenure, he played a key role in both reporting and desk operations and was recognised as TOI Employee of the Quarter in 2016. He later joined Zee, where he covered the 2019 World Cup across five venues in England—an assignment he considers a career highlight. At Hindustan Times, Aditya’s leadership came to the fore as he was promoted to lead the sports team within 18 months. Under his stewardship, the section has delivered extensive coverage of global sporting events, including the IPL, Olympics, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. In 2024, he was named HT DigiStar of the Year. Aditya continues to adapt to the evolving digital publishing landscape, with a sharp focus on search and audience engagement. Outside work, he occasionally plays the guitar and remains an avid gamer.Read More

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