India captain Rohit Sharma has officially passed his rigorous three-day fitness assessment, ensuring he will lead the team in the three-match One Day International (ODI) series against Afghanistan. This is huge news for India, especially since batting maestro Virat Kohli has been ruled out of the entire series due to a severe hamstring tear. Having the "Hitman" back stabilizes the top order and injects critical leadership back into the squad. Rohit reported to the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru on June 8, 2026. This is because he struggled with a hamstring issue during the final weeks of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, selectors made his spot conditional on a full medical clearance.

Rohit Sharma suffered a hamstring injury, and Hardik Pandya was recovering from back spasms. Both players picked up these issues during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season while playing for the Mumbai Indians. Rohit went through an intensive assessment that included running drills, match simulations, and batting sessions. Medical experts put Rohit through an intensive battery of tests. They re-created intense match scenarios to test real-game responses. Ensuring his hamstring can take the load of quick singles and fielding sprints, several running drills were also conducted. Batting against a fresh set of fast bowlers, including high-intensity practice under stadium floodlights was also done as a part of the simulation.

 

Hardik Pandya confirmed to play ODI series against Afghanistan

Hardik Pandya has received full medical clearance from the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) to play in the upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan. He has been recovering from lower back spasms that caused him to miss several matches for the Mumbai Indians during the IPL 2026 season. His return provides a massive boost to Team India, giving the squad vital balance as a premier seam-bowling all-rounder. Hardik spent several weeks on the sidelines due to lower back spasms during the IPL 2026 season. He reported to the CoE on June 2, 2026, to start a thorough 5-day evaluation. The most reassuring news is that Hardik bowled his full quota of 10 overs in training sessions. He did this with absolutely no pain or discomfort.

 

Strength and Conditioning coaches thoroughly checked his physical data parameters. They gave him a complete green light on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. Pandya will travel to join the rest of the Indian national squad on June 11, 2026. His complete recovery is an ideal relief for the team management. He serves as the core finisher with the bat and acts as the essential third or fourth seamer. In 94 career ODI matches, Hardik has amassed 1,904 runs and taken 91 wickets, making him indispensable to India's white-ball balance. According to reports, BCCI Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar has highlighted a long-term plan for Hardik. Selectors are purposely limiting his appearances in shorter T20 games. This workload management strategy keeps him fresh and safe from injuries so he can prioritize critical 50-over ODI tournaments.