New Delhi: India are still awaiting confirmation on Rohit Sharma’s return as the senior batter is yet to pass mandatory fitness tests at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) to return to action, having recently recovered from a hamstring injury. With star batter Virat Kohli already out of the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan, Rohit’s return is crucial for Team India.
India will take on Afghanistan in a three-match ODI series, starting June 13, after thrashing the visitors by an innings and 300 runs in the one-off Test on Monday. Kohli has been ruled out of the series due to a hamstring injury. All eyes are now on Rohit as India would not want to lose two of their most experienced campaigners for the home assignment.
Along with Rohit, the status of all-rounder Hardik Pandya is also not clear yet. Both Rohit and Hardik were included in India’s ODI squad for the Afghanistan series, subject to fitness clearance. India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak provided a crucial update on the duo’s fitness and remained optimistic about them playing in the Afghanistan ODI series.
“I honestly don’t know. I have honestly not got the news whether they (Rohit and Hardik) have been cleared or not. But I am sure they will be there. Whatever I heard, they are fine. But they have to go and do that fitness test or whatever the rule is,” said Kotak in the post-match presser after India’s victory in the one-off Test against Afghanistan in Mullanpur.
Why has Rohit Sharma not been cleared yet?
Rohit picked up a hamstring injury while playing for the Mumbai Indians in the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. The senior batter missed several matches for the five-time champions before returning towards the end of the season. Rohit played as an Impact Sub for MI in their last few games and was not seen fielding.
The senior opener was instructed by the BCCI to head to the CoE in Bengaluru for mandatory fitness tests and rehab after his injury. Both Rohit and Hardik were asked to check in around the same time, but the senior batter didn’t arrive on time due to unknown reasons. Rohit checked into the BCCI CoE on Monday, June 08.
Rohit will now have to undergo mandatory fitness tests and clear all of them in order to obtain the green light to make his comeback for the Indian team in the ODI series against Afghanistan. While the Indian team management remains optimistic about his return, with no major injury concerns, they won’t gamble on his fitness unless he gets a clearance from the medical staff at the CoE.
The ODI series between India and Afghanistan is set to get underway on June 13, and Rohit faces a race against time to be fit for the three-match assignment. In case he fails to make the cut, the senior opener might get ruled out of the series and will be replaced by a youngster.
