Our Bureau
Mumbai
India received a major boost ahead of its upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan, with senior players Hardik Pandya and Rohit Sharma receiving fitness clearance from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, making them available for selection.
The duo had been undergoing rehabilitation and fitness assessments at the CoE after dealing with injury concerns that cast doubt over their participation in the series. Hardik, who missed the latter stages of IPL 2026 due to a back spasm, reportedly completed a rigorous rehabilitation programme and successfully cleared all medical evaluations conducted by the BCCI’s sports science and medical team.
Rohit, meanwhile, also underwent fitness testing after concerns regarding his physical condition ahead of the Afghanistan assignment. The veteran batter’s clearance comes as a relief for the Indian team management, which had been awaiting updates from the CoE before finalising its plans for the series.
The return of both players significantly strengthens India’s ODI setup, particularly with the team looking to build momentum and establish a stable core ahead of future international commitments. Hardik’s presence adds balance to the side as a pace-bowling all-rounder, while Rohit’s experience at the top of the order remains invaluable.
India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak had earlier expressed optimism about the duo’s recovery, indicating that both players were progressing well and were expected to join the squad once official clearance was received.
The Afghanistan ODI series is scheduled to begin on June 13 in Dharamshala. With Rohit and Hardik now fit and available, selectors and team management will have two of their most experienced white-ball performers back in contention as India aims to field a full-strength squad.