India have received a major boost ahead of the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan, with both Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya being cleared by the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.
The fitness of the two senior stars had been under scrutiny after injury concerns during IPL 2026. Hardik, who reported to the CoE on June 2 after a holiday abroad, underwent extensive match simulations and bowled his full quota of 10 overs without any discomfort. According to reports, the all-rounder successfully met all fitness benchmarks set by the Sports Science and Strength & Conditioning teams.
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Rohit, meanwhile, had missed five matches for the Mumbai Indians during IPL 2026 due to injury. Although he returned later in the tournament, his limited time on the field raised concerns about his readiness for the 50-over format. The BCCI had made his selection for the Afghanistan series subject to fitness clearance, which he has now secured.
The positive update comes at an important time for India, especially after Virat Kohli was ruled out of the series with a hamstring injury. With Rohit and Hardik available, India regain two experienced campaigners as they begin preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
The three-match ODI series against Afghanistan will begin in Dharamsala on June 14, followed by matches in Lucknow on June 17 and Chennai on June 20. India will be led by Shubman Gill, with Rohit and Hardik expected to play key roles in the squad.
