No Virat Kohli. Will Rohit Sharma play ODI vs Afghanistan?

Team India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has given a key update on the fitness of veteran 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 have shifted to the availability of the two veteran batsmen.

Both Rohit and Hardik were included in the starting white ball squad but with an explicit asterisk next to their names. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made it clear that their participation is entirely dependent on receiving formal medical clearance from the board’s medical department. In the post-match press conference following India’s comprehensive victory in the one-off Test at Mullanpur, Kotak shared an upbeat update on the two, despite not giving any clear confirmation of their availability.

“I honestly don’t know. I honestly haven’t gotten any news if they’ve been released or not. But I’m sure they’ll be there. Whatever I’ve heard, they’re fine. But they have to go and do the fitness test or whatever the rule is.”

With the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup just over a year away, every 50-over match carries huge weight and the battle for places in the squad is intensifying as the new era of newly appointed ODI captain Shubman Gill gets its second match.

IS ROHIT SHARMA SUITABLE FOR IND VS AFG ODIS?

The biggest question mark continues to hang over former captain Rohit Sharma. The veteran opener reported to the BCCI Center of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru on June 8 to undergo the mandatory fitness tests and rehabilitation. Rohit missed several matches in the recent domestic T20 league due to a hamstring problem and was primarily used as an impact substitute in the second half of the tournament, which severely limited his time on the field.

To gain selection for full 50-over international duty, Rohit has to pass intensive physical tests, including BCCI’s rigorous high-speed running and fielding tests. While the team management is confident that there is no lingering serious injury, the selectors will not gamble on his fitness until the medical staff in Bengaluru give him the official green light.

PANDYA CLEANED UP AS KOHLI IS OUT

In a massive boost to the tactical balance, star all-rounder Hardik Pandya has reportedly completed his rehabilitation at the CoE and received official clearance from the BCCI medical team. Pandya has been sidelined from several recent home matches due to back spasms and illness, but his recovery from lower back stiffness ensures he will travel for the series, providing vital flexibility as a pace-bowling option.

In contrast, the news of Virat Kohli is a heavy blow for the hosts. The prolific batsman was completely sidelined after medical scans confirmed a distal tear of the semimembranosus tendon in his hamstring. Kohli sustained the injury during the high-stakes closing stages of the domestic T20 tournament at the end of May and faces a lengthy spell on the treatment table.

With a three-match series scheduled to take place in Dharamsala, Lucknow and Chennai, the final verdict on Rohit will determine how India form their top order for Gill’s 2nd official ODI captaincy.

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Issued by:

Debodinna Chakraborty

Published on:

09 Jun 2026 03:00 IST