Team India has received a major boost ahead of the upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan, with star all-rounder Hardik Pandya being declared fully fit for selection. The ODI series is scheduled to begin on Sunday in Dharamsala. Notably, Hardik missed several matches for the Mumbai Indians (MI) during the IPL 2026 season as he was suffering from back spasms.
The 32-year-old’s fitness became a major talking point after the tournament, especially with India preparing for an important white-ball assignment against Afghanistan. In Virat Kohli’s absence, Hardik’s role will be pivotal for the Men in Blue. However, due to a hamstring injury, Rohit Sharma is also doubtful for the series against Afghanistan. Currently, he is also under medical assessment.
However, after undergoing assessment and rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, Pandya has now completed all required fitness tests and has been cleared by the Sports Science team to return to competitive cricket.
Hardik Pandya’s successful recovery at Bengaluru’s CoE
Pandya reported to the BCCI Centre of Excellence on June 2 after returning from a holiday abroad. Since then, he has undergone extensive training and match simulation exercises under the supervision of the medical and strength-and-conditioning staff.
The all-rounder completed several demanding sessions during his stay in Bengaluru. “Hardik was on a holiday abroad before he checked in at the CoE on June 2. Over the next five days, he did several match simulations and even bowled (full quota of) 10 overs,” a trusted BCCI source told to PTI.
The source further confirmed that the all-rounder experienced no discomfort during the sessions. “There has been no discomfort and the information is that his fitness data for various parameters has been okayed by Strength and Conditioning coaches at the CoE.”
Bowling workload a positive sign for Team India
One of the biggest positives for Team India is that Pandya has been able to bowl his complete quota of 10 overs during training. This indicates that he is ready for the physical demands of 50-over cricket.
Pandya’s ability to contribute with both bat and ball makes him one of the most valuable players in India’s ODI setup. His medium pace provides balance to the side, while his aggressive batting can change the course of a match during the middle and death overs.
Coaching staff confident about Pandya’s recovery
Earlier this week, India’s assistant coach Sitanshu Kotak had expressed confidence regarding Pandya’s recovery, even though he did not have an official update at the time.
Hardik Pandya during the Champions Trophy. (Photo Credit: PTI)
The latest fitness clearance has now confirmed those positive signs, giving the team management more options ahead of the series opener.
It remains unclear whether Pandya will join the squad in Chandigarh for an under-lights training session or travel directly to Dharamsala as originally planned.
Rohit Sharma is also undergoing fitness assessment
Meanwhile, former India captain Rohit Sharma is also currently at the Centre of Excellence. The veteran batter is undergoing assessment for a hamstring issue that forced him to miss several matches for the Mumbai Indians during the recent IPL season.
Rohit Sharma in action against Australia. (Photo Credit: PTI)
Under the captaincy of Hardik Pandya, MI finished their IPL 2026 season at the ninth spot with eight points. Out of 14 matches played, Mumbai won just four of them and lost 10 matches in the tournament. Their Net Run Rate (NRR) was -0.584 in this season.
