India could head into their upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan without two of their biggest stars, with fitness concerns continuing to surround Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. While Kohli has reportedly been ruled out with a hamstring injury, Rohit’s participation remains uncertain as he continues to recover from a similar issue.
According to reports, Rohit is yet to report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru, where he is expected to undergo a fitness assessment before receiving clearance to play. The former India captain was named in the squad, subject to fitness, and his availability for the three-match series will depend on the outcome of those tests.
All-rounder Hardik Pandya also finds himself in a similar situation. Although he has been included in the squad, his selection is reportedly dependent on his ability to bowl. Pandya has already reported to the COE and is undergoing evaluation after dealing with recurring back issues.
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The star all-rounder missed several matches during IPL 2026 because of back spasms, raising concerns about his workload management ahead of the international season. If Rohit fails to recover in time, selectors could turn to Yashasvi Jaiswal as a replacement.
🚨 𝑹𝑬𝑷𝑶𝑹𝑻𝑺 🚨
Rohit Sharma is yet to report to the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) for a fitness assessment and clearance, leaving his availability for the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan in doubt! 🇮🇳🏏🙆♂️
(Source: Sahil Malhotra/ The Times of India)#India… pic.twitter.com/AoHyHqPguY
— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) June 4, 2026
The young left-hander was surprisingly left out of the 15-member squad despite scoring a century in his most recent ODI appearance, making him a strong candidate should a vacancy arise.
The ODI series against Afghanistan will begin on June 13 in Dharamsala, followed by the second match in Lucknow on June 17 and the final ODI in Chennai on June 20. The series will also mark another important chapter in Shubman Gill’s leadership journey, with the young opener set to captain the side.
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India’s squad includes several fresh faces, with pacers Prince Yadav and Gurnoor Brar earning opportunities alongside left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey. Meanwhile, players who featured in India’s previous ODI squad against New Zealand, including Dhruv Jurel, Ayush Badoni, and the injured Harshit Rana, have missed out this time around as the selectors continue to shape the team’s future plans.
India’s ODI Squad: Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey
