Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya
India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said on Monday that he has not received confirmation on whether Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya have passed fitness tests ahead of the ODI series against Afghanistan, but added that he has heard that both players are in good condition.Rohit and Hardik have been named in India’s squad for the three-match ODI series, which is subject to clearance from fitness tests at the Center of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. Hardik was recovering from a back spasm, while Rohit suffered a hamstring injury during the Indian Premier League. Both players missed several matches during the tournament.
“Honestly, I haven’t received news on whether they’ve been acquitted or not. But I’m sure they will be there.
“Whatever I hear, they are fine, but they have to go and do a fitness test or whatever the rule is,” Kotak said when asked about the fitness status of the duo.Kotak also explained India’s preparations for the ODI series. He said the ODI squad will meet on Monday and Tuesday before a training session under lights on Wednesday. The team is scheduled to leave for Dharamsala on Thursday.“But the ODI players will join, they will join here, and after tomorrow evening, there may be light training.
“So there might be a light training session,” Kotak added.The update came after India completed their one-off Test against Afghanistan in three days at Mullanpur.After declaring the score at 564/8 in the first innings, India bowled out Afghanistan for 152 and forced the follow-on. The visitors were then bowled out for 112 in the second innings as India recorded their biggest win in the history of Test cricket, winning by an innings and 300 runs.Debutant left-arm spinner Manav Suthar impressed with figures of 6/33 in Afghanistan’s first innings, while Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav shared seven wickets in the second innings.