Published on: Jun 9, 2026 4:32 pm IST|Updated on: Jun 9, 2026 4:32 pm IST
In a massive boost for the Indian cricket team ahead of the home ODI series against Afghanistan, veteran opener and former skipper Rohit Sharma has been declared fully fit by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). He is all set to feature in the 3-match ODI series against Afghanistan, set to kick off in Dharamsala on June 13.
Not only Rohit, but all-rounder Hardik Pandya has also received full clearance from the medical team, giving the national squad a massive double injection of experience ahead of the home series.
Both Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya entered the squad selection with an asterisk next to their names. When chief selector Ajit Agarkar announced the 15-member team led by Shubman Gill, both senior players were selected “subject to fitness clearance.”
View this post on Instagram A post shared by IndiaFantasy (@indiafantasy)
A post shared by IndiaFantasy (@indiafantasy)
The duo had a bruising Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 campaign with the Mumbai Indians. Rohit spent the second half of the tournament battling a stubborn hamstring injury, which even forced him to play strictly as an Impact Player to avoid further damage. Meanwhile, Hardik missed crucial franchise matches due to severe back spasms.
To prove they could handle the immense physical demands of the 50-over format, both reported to the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. Hardik checked in early on June 2, while Rohit reported on Monday, June 8, for rigorous physical tests, including batting under lights. On Tuesday morning, the Sports Science Team at the CoE officially handed both players their green-lit fitness certificates.
The availability of Hardik and Rohit has brought smiles to Indian cricket fans, but the absence of Virat Kohli remains a tough pill to swallow. The veteran batter has been completely ruled out of the three-match series against Afghanistan after suffering a hamstring injury in the final of the Tata IPL 2026. He has been replaced by left-handed opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal.
The injury took place when Kohli orchestrated yet another spirited chase in the Tata IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad against the Gujarat Titans. His unbeaten knock of 75 off 42 balls helped the Royal Challengers Bengaluru to lift the elusive IPL trophy for the second season in a row. On his course to a magnificent chase, Kohli was seen limping while running between the wickets, but he ensured to stay there on the crease until the task was done.
Subsequent medical scans reviewed by the BCCI medical team revealed a distal semimembranosus tendon tear. Medical experts note that this is an incredibly rare form of injury for elite athletes, as the hamstring usually tears much higher up near the hip, whereas this specific tear occurred right near the back of the knee, where the tendon is heavily anchored.
Adding to the worry, chief selector Ajit Agarkar confirmed that there is no definite timeline for the return of the champion batter. Although the team management and fans are hopeful that Kohli might recover in time ahead of the ODI tour to England in July.
Here is the updated squad of Team India for the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan.
Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer (VC), KL Rahul (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey
All matches will be a day-night affair.