When will Virat Kohli play next for India? Return match after RCB's IPL 2026 title win revealed

Virat Kohli steered Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a second successive Indian Premier League championship after beating Gujarat Titans in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium on May 31.

He played a sensational knock in the summit clash of 75* runs off just 42 balls to single-handedly drag his side over the finish line.

After his franchise commitments are over, it is time for him to take a break. He has already retired from Test cricket, and hence he is not available for selection for the upcoming one-off fixture against Afghanistan in New Chandiagrh.

Immediately after the Test series, India will host Afghanistan in a three-match ODI series. Virat continues to play for India in the 50-over format, and selectors have included him in the ODI squad, meaning he will take the field on June 13 when India faces Afghanistan in the series opener at Dharamshala.

After taking the field in Dharamshala, the action shifts to Lucknow, at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, on June 17.

After that, the final ODI will be played at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai.

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Kohli is chasing Sachin Tendulkar's record of 100 centuries and the three matches provide him a golden opportunity to further narrow down that gap.