The Indian coach “doesn’t know” if Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya have passed the fitness tests

Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said on Monday that he had not received confirmation on whether Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya had passed fitness tests ahead of the ODI series against Afghanistan, but added that he had heard that both players were doing well.Rohit and Hardik have been named in India’s squad for the three-match ODI series, after passing fitness tests at the Center of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. Hardik was recovering from a back spasm while Rohit suffered a hamstring injury during the IPL. Both players missed several matches during the tournament.“Honestly I haven’t got the news whether they have been released or not. But I am sure they will be there. Whatever I have heard, they are fine but they, they have to go and do the fitness test or whatever the rule is,” Kotak said when asked about the fitness of the duo.Kotak also outlined India’s preparations for the ODI series. He said the ODI squad will meet on Monday and Tuesday before training under lights on Wednesday. The team is scheduled to leave for Dharamsala on Thursday.“But the ODI players will join, they will join here and there can be light practice tomorrow night. So there can be light practice,” Kotak added.The update came after India completed their one-off Test against Afghanistan in three days at Mullanpur.After declaring on 564/8 in the first innings, India bowled out Afghanistan for 152 to force the follow-on. The visitors were then dismissed for 112 in their second innings as India secured their biggest win in Test cricket history, winning by an innings and 300 runs.Left-arm debutant Manav Suthar took figures of 6/33 in Afghanistan’s first innings, while Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav shared seven wickets in the second innings.