4 players who might replace Virat Kohli for one-off Test match against Afghanistan

Team India's full-time captain Virat Kohli is set to miss the one-off Test match against Afghanistan, which begins on 14th June, because of his one-month stint with County Championship Division One side Surrey. In his stead, Ajinkya Rahane is expected to lead the side, if reports are to be believed.

The squad for the Test match, along with teams for India's T20 series against England and the tour of Ireland and the squad for the three-match ODI series against England, is set to be announced on 8th May.

As Kohli won't be a part of the squad, here are four players who can replace him.

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#4 Ravikumar Samarth

It would be a good decision to give the youngster a go at the highest level

The right-handed Karnataka batsman has been in brilliant form recently in the domestic circuit. In the Ranji Trophy this year, Samarth added 673 runs at an average of 56.08 in 13 innings.

In the process, the 25-year-old smashed three centuries and two half-centuries as well. All in all, Samarth has 3020 runs in 43 first-class matches at an average of 43.14.

It would be a good decision to give the youngster a go at the highest level.

#3 Sanju Samson

Overall, the 23-year-old has 2602 runs in 44 first-class matches

The Kerala youngster is another contender to replace Kohli in the historic one-off Test match against Afghanistan. Samson had a decent Ranji season as well which saw him score 627 runs in seven matches at 52.25, which included two hundreds and three half-centuries.

Overall, the 23-year-old has 2602 runs in 44 first-class matches at an average of 38.26. In the IPL this year as well, Samson has been making all the right moves and he might end up being called up to the squad come May 8.

#2 Karun Nair

Nair has a Test triple century

Another Karnataka batsman in the list, Nair has been in and around the Indian Test team for a good two years now. Having made his Test debut against England at Mohali in 2016, the right-hander has played only six Tests, however, he has a triple century to show for.

In the Ranji this season, Nair added 612 runs in seven matches at an average of 68.00. He hit as many as three centuries and a fifty, which proves how good he is at converting starts into big scores.

If given another chance by the selectors, he might as well go on to cement his place in the side.

#1 Shreyas Iyer

Overall, the 23-year-old has 3989 first-class runs in 46 matches at an average of 54

Shreyas Iyer is probably one of the first names which the selectors would ponder upon to replace Kohli for the one-off Test match. Though the Mumbai batsman wasn't at his brilliant best in this year's Ranji Trophy (321 runs at 46 in four matches), his performances in the previous editions have been swashbuckling.

On top of all that, he was also recently handed the captaincy of Delhi Daredevils after Gautam Gambhir stepped down. Overall, the 23-year-old has 3989 first-class runs in 46 matches at an average of 54 with the highest score of 202*.

Iyer has performed decently in the six ODIs that he has featured in for India, amassing 210 runs with the help of two half-centuries. He might just turn out to be the player India needed as an able replacement for their skipper.