Rohit Sharma Set for Fitness Test Ahead of India vs Afghanistan ODI Series, Virat Kohli Likely Out

Rohit Sharma is expected to report to the Board of Control for Cricket in India Centre of Excellence on June 8. He suffered a hamstring injury during the 2026 IPL season and missed five matches. The opening batter played only as an Impact Player for the Mumbai Indians throughout the tournament. Although Rohit’s campaign with Mumbai ended on May 24, he hasn’t joined CoE yet.

His teammate, Hardik Pandya, who also struggled with injury during IPL 2026, checked into the Bengaluru facility on June 2. But there was no update on Rohit. It suggested that his injury wasn’t serious. It was expected that he’d travel to Mullanpur on June 9, where the ODI squad for the India vs Afghanistan series would assemble before leaving for Dharamshala. But that isn’t the case. Rohit will travel to Bengaluru for a fitness assessment, stay at the facility for a couple of days, and, if all goes well, then join the team two days before the opening ODI.

“Yes, Rohit is supposed to report to the CoE on June 8. He should be there for three days and has a few sessions lined up, including batting under lights on one ground. He will then join the Indian team in Dharamshala on June 11, two days ahead of the first ODI against Afghanistan on June 13,” a source told the Times of India.

Rohit Set for Fitness Test, Kohli Likely to Miss ODI Series

Like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli also suffered a hamstring injury during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's title-winning IPL 2026 campaign. Reports suggest that he will miss the India vs Afghanistan ODI series.

His recovery could take around six weeks, which is also expected to rule him out of the India vs England ODI series starting on July 14 in Birmingham. Kohli won’t require surgery like Riyan Parag but can’t play either. It’s expected that Kohli too will report to CoE at some point. But for now, he’s in touch with doctor Dinshaw Pardiwala.

“He has a hamstring tear. The injury won’t require surgery. It will take about six weeks of healing time, which will also involve rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. He tele-consulted renowned orthopaedic surgeon Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala (at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai), who reviewed his MRI scans,” the source added.