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India vs Afghanistan ODI Series 2026: Team India’s star all-rounder Hardik Pandya will have to prove his fitness before the upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made it clear that before making a place in the playing eleven, he will have to obtain fitness clearance from the Center of Excellence (CoE).

Hardik Pandya has been included in the Indian team for the ODI series against Afghanistan, but a fitness condition has also been attached to his selection. According to the report, Hardik reached the BCCI Center of Excellence in Bengaluru on June 2 and will spend more than a week there before the start of the series.

Hardik Pandya will have to prove his fitness

During this time, the 32-year-old all-rounder will have to undergo fitness drills and physical assessment. They will get RTP (Return To Play) approval only after being successful on all the parameters. Only after this will a final decision be taken on his availability in the ODI series against Afghanistan.

Hardik Pandya (Image- Social Media)

This fitness test is also important for Hardik Pandya because he suffered from back spasms during the captaincy of Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026. For this reason he could not participate in some matches of the tournament. His last ODI match was against New Zealand in the final of ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Rohit Sharma also instructed to report in CoE

Not only Hardik, former Indian captain Rohit Sharma has also been asked by BCCI to report to the Center of Excellence. Rohit was troubled by hamstring injury during IPL 2026. For this reason, a condition to fitness has been placed before his name in the Indian team announced for the Afghanistan series.

However, Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene had recently claimed that Rohit is completely fit. According to Jayawardene, Rohit was given adequate rest to recover from the injury and the medical team has considered him 100 percent fit.

Rohit Sharma (Image- Social Media)

He also clarified that using Rohit as an impact player in the IPL was part of the team’s strategy and had nothing to do with his fitness. Jayawardene said that Mumbai Indians take decisions as per their needs and Rohit always adapts himself as per the expectations of the team.

When will the ODI series between India and Afghanistan start?

The three-match ODI series between India and Afghanistan will start from June 13 at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala. The second match will be played on June 17 at Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, while the third and final ODI will be held on June 20 in Chennai.

Team India against Afghanistan

India’s ODI team against Afghanistan: Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma*, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya*, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey.

Now everyone’s eyes will be on the fitness report of Hardik Pandya and Rohit Sharma. If both the players get clearance in time, then the Indian team will look much stronger against Afghanistan.