Hardik Pandya and Rohit Sharma have received clearance to play in India’s upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan, which begins on June 13 in Dharamsala. The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s Sports Science Team at the Center of Excellence in Bengaluru has approved both players after fitness assessments.
There had been uncertainty around the availability of the two senior cricketers after they missed several matches for the Mumbai Indians during the IPL 2026 season because of injury concerns.
Sources aware of the developments confirmed on Tuesday that both Rohit and Hardik have now been declared fit and will be part of the ODI squad against Afghanistan.
“Rohit and Hardik have been given the necessary clearance. Both players have been given the go-ahead and will feature in the series against Afghanistan,” a BCCI source confirmed to Hindustan Times Digital.
Hardik had missed a few IPL matches due to back spasms, while Rohit was recovering from a hamstring issue. Even after returning for Mumbai Indians, Rohit featured only as an impact substitute.
Hardik reported to the Centre of Excellence on June 2, while Rohit arrived in Bengaluru on June 8. Earlier, while announcing India’s squad for the T20I series against Ireland and England, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia had confirmed that Rohit would soon undergo the required fitness procedures at the CoE.
“As far as Hardik Pandya and Rohit are concerned, Hardik is already at the CoE in Bengaluru. Very soon, he will take the final test and will be in the process of obtaining the clearance certificate. As far as Rohit is concerned, he will also be visiting the CoE in the next two or three days. We are following a process for whoever gets injured; every player needs to get the certificate from our team at the CoE,” Saikia had told reporters at the BCCI headquarters on June 6.
Following the one off Test against Afghanistan on Monday, India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said he had not yet received an official update regarding the duo’s fitness status, although he expected both to be available.
“I have honestly not got the news whether they have been cleared or not. But I’m 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,” Kotak said during the post match press conference.
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli has already been ruled out of the ODI series because of a hamstring injury sustained during the IPL 2026 final against the Gujarat Titans. Yashasvi Jaiswal has been named as his replacement.
It remains unclear when Kohli will report to the Centre of Excellence for his fitness clearance, although expectations are that he could recover in time for India’s three match ODI series against England in July.
After the opening game in Dharamsala, the remaining two ODIs between India and Afghanistan will be played in Lucknow and Chennai on June 17 and June 20 respectively.
