Before the ODI series against Afghanistan, BCCI has called Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya to the Center of Excellence in Bengaluru for fitness checkup. Hardik will reach there soon while there is no update regarding Rohit yet. Before the Test match, Team India also included additional bowlers in the nets.
The preparations of the Indian cricket team intensified before the upcoming series against Afghanistan. Meanwhile, a big news came out that the Board of Control for Cricket in India asked senior players Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya to report to the Center of Excellence in Bengaluru for fitness checkup.
India has to play one Test and three ODI series against Afghanistan. The Test match will start from June 6 while the ODI series will start from June 13. The Indian team has already been announced for both the formats.
Rohit-Hardik will have to prove fitness
Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya have been included in the ODI squad, but their availability will depend entirely on fitness clearance. According to media reports, Hardik Pandya is soon going to reach the Center of Excellence in Bengaluru and can stay there for about a week. Only after this he will join the ODI team. However, no clear information was given in the report regarding Rohit Sharma reaching COE. In such a situation, there is still a wait regarding his fitness status. The Indian team management is keeping an eye on the medical reports and fitness updates of both the players.
Test against Afghanistan from June 6
On the other hand, before the Test match against Afghanistan, Team India has called seven additional bowlers in the nets to further strengthen its preparations. This will be India’s first Test match of the year 2026, so the team management does not want to leave any stone unturned.
Aaqib Dar added as net bowler
Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Aaqib Nabi Dar has also been called as a net bowler. Interestingly, many former players and cricket experts had raised questions about his not being selected in the Test team. Now he has been given the responsibility of giving practice to the Indian batsmen.
The Afghanistan team is going to bring many spin bowlers with them, especially the wrist spinners are expected to face challenge. For this reason, young leg spinner Zeeshan Ansari from Uttar Pradesh has also been called in the nets. Zeeshan is a part of Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL and is known for his leg spin.
The Indian team management believes that it is necessary for the batsmen to prepare beforehand to face the spin attack of Afghanistan. This is why such bowlers have been included in the nets who can present a challenge like the bowlers of Afghanistan. Now all eyes are on the fitness report of Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya, because the presence of both the experienced players can significantly increase India’s strength in the ODI series.
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