Team India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has provided an important update about the fitness status of experienced duo Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya ahead of the upcoming three-match One Day International (ODI) series against Afghanistan. With superstar batsman Virat Kohli completely out of action due to a serious hamstring injury, all eyes are on the availability of the two experienced campaigners.

Both Rohit and Hardik were included in the initial white-ball squad But with a clear asterisk next to their name. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made it clear that his participation is entirely dependent on him receiving formal medical clearance from the board’s medical department. Speaking at the post-match press conference following India’s comprehensive win in the one-off Test in Mullanpur, Kotak shared an optimistic update on the duo despite not giving any clear confirmation on their availability.

“I honestly don’t know. I honestly haven’t got the news whether they’ve been cleared or not. But I’m sure they’ll be there. From what I hear, they’re fine. But they have to go and get a fitness test or whatever the rules are.”

With just over a year to go until the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup, every 50-over match is crucial and the battle for places in the team is heating up as a new era begins under newly appointed ODI captain Shubman Gill.

Is Rohit Sharma fit for India vs AFG ODI?

The biggest question mark continues to hover over former captain Rohit Sharma. The veteran opener checked into the BCCI Center of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru on June 8 to undergo mandatory fitness testing and rehabilitation. Rohit had recently missed several matches in the domestic T20 league due to a hamstring problem and was mainly used as an impact substitute in the latter half of the tournament, significantly limiting his fielding time on the field.

To gain selection clearance for full 50-over international duties, Rohit will have to successfully complete intensive physical tests, including the BCCI’s stringent high-speed running and fielding benchmarks. While the team management is confident that there are no major injuries, the selectors will not bet on his preparation until the medical staff in Bengaluru gives him the official green signal.

After Kohli’s out, Pandya is also out.

In a huge boost to the team’s tactical balance, star all-rounder Hardik Pandya has reportedly completed his rehabilitation at the COE and has received official clearance from the BCCI medical team. Pandya has been ruled out of some recent home games due to back spasms and illness, but his recovery from lower back stiffness has ensured he will travel for the series, providing vital flexibility as a fast bowling option.

On the contrary, the news related to Virat Kohli is a big blow for the host team. The illustrious batsman has been completely sidelined after medical scans confirmed a rupture of the distal semimembranosus tendon in his hamstring. Kohli suffered the injury during the high-stakes final leg of the domestic T20 tournament in late May and faced a long period on the treatment table.

With a three-match series scheduled in Dharamsala, Lucknow and Chennai, the final fitness verdict on Rohit will determine how India shapes its top order for Gill’s second assignment as the official ODI captain.

– ends