After Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma also doubtful for Afghanistan ODI series
India’s injury scare ahead of Afghanistan ODI series may not end with Virat Kohli. The selectors are also awaiting clarity on Rohit Sharma’s fitness, with the Indian skipper yet to undergo the mandatory fitness test required for his participation in the three-match series.
Kohli has already been ruled out with a hamstring injury during Royal Challengers Bengaluru IPL 2026 final win over Gujarat Titans. Uncertainty now also surrounds Rohit, who has been dealing with a paralysis problem during the IPL and missed a significant part of Mumbai Indians’ campaign.
According to a report in The Indian Express, Rohit’s inclusion in the ODI squad was always conditional on him passing a fitness test. However, as things stand, there have been no updates on the opener’s rating and he is yet to report to the BCCI center of excellence.
The development leaves India facing the possibility of missing two of their most experienced batsmen for the series, which begins in Dharamsala on June 14. While Kohli’s replacement is expected to be announced soon, the selectors may also have to prepare contingency plans if Rohit fails to prove his fitness in time.
The selectors are expected to discuss Rohit’s status when they meet to finalize India’s T20 squads for the UK tour and the upcoming Asian Games.
WHY IS ROHIT SHARMA DOUBTFUL FOR AFGHANISTAN ODI?
Rohit’s availability has remained under the scanner ever since he suffered a hamstring injury during the IPL season.
The India captain was forced to miss several matches of Mumbai Indians as the franchise carefully managed his workload during the latter stages of the tournament. Despite injury concerns, he was named in India’s ODI squad for the Afghanistan series.
However, chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar made it clear during the team announcement that Rohit’s participation will be entirely dependent on him passing the fitness assessment.
No official updates about the result of this fitness test have been released yet. Reports suggest that Rohit is yet to report to the Center of Excellence, where players recovering from injuries are monitored before returning to competitive action.
The uncertainty comes at a challenging time for India, who have already lost Kohli after scans revealed a distal semimembranosus tendon tear suffered during the IPL final. With India also scheduled to tour England in July for a white-ball series, the team management is expected to take a cautious approach to any player with injury concerns.
There are also fresh concerns about Hardik Pandya, who is currently being monitored at the Center of Excellence after recurring problems forced him to miss several IPL matches. Like Rohit, Pandya is also expected to undergo a fitness test before the final call for his participation is taken.
WHO WILL REPLACE ROHIT SHARMA IN AFG ODI?
If Rohit fails the fitness test, Yashasvi Jaiswal is expected to be the frontrunner for a recall to the ODI squad.
The left-arm opener has been the third choice opener in India during recent ODI assignments and remains highly rated by the selectors. Jaiswal also boosted his credentials in his last ODI appearance, scoring his maiden century for India.
Interestingly, India preferred Ishan Kishan as a midfielder in Afghanistan squad selection despite Jaiswal’s impressive performances. However, with Rohit’s fitness now uncertain, the Rajasthan Royals batter seems well-placed to get another opportunity.
Jaiswal’s compact technique and ability to score quickly at the top of the order makes him an attractive option to partner Shubman Gill’s captain if Rohit is unavailable.
The selectors are expected to take a final call in the coming days, but with Kohli already ruled out and questions over Rohit and Pandya lingering, India’s squad for the Afghanistan series could look vastly different from the one originally announced.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
04 Jun 2026 17:26 IST