Ajit Agarkar Says Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya’s Availability for Afghanistan ODIs Hinges on Medical Clearance

Guwahati, May 2026 : Chief selector Ajit Agarkar on Tuesday said the availability of senior India players Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan will depend entirely on fitness clearance from the team’s medical and support staff, even though both players are currently “on track” in their recovery processes.

India are scheduled to play Afghanistan in a three-match ODI series in Dharamshala on June 14, Lucknow on June 17, and Chennai on June 20. While both Rohit and Pandya have been included in the broader ODI squad considerations, their final participation will be determined closer to the series after reassessment by the medical team.

Pandya is currently recovering from back spasms and has missed multiple matches for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026 since his last appearance on May 2. Rohit Sharma, meanwhile, has also been managing a hamstring injury picked up earlier in the season against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, which has restricted his participation in the ongoing IPL campaign.

Speaking at a virtual press conference after announcing the squad, Agarkar emphasised that selection decisions around injured players are guided primarily by medical expertise rather than subjective assessment.

“I mean, sometimes a player knows whether he can play through it or not. I won’t be able to tell you, sitting here, whether they are playing through niggles or not. You certainly want them fit when they come and play or represent the national team,” Agarkar said.

He further clarified that the selectors rely heavily on input from the Indian team’s physios and trainers before making final decisions on player availability.

“But that’s an area of expertise for the trainers and the physios who kind of give me the feedback on where a player is at. I mean, I am not an expert in that area. If they tell me a certain guy is fit, I’ve got to trust that person when we pick them,” he added.

Agarkar explained that both Rohit and Pandya are currently being monitored and are considered “on track,” but their situation remains fluid and subject to change depending on their recovery progress over the next two weeks.

“Maybe in two weeks, if we are told that those two guys haven’t quite made it fitness-wise, we’ll take a call accordingly. But at this point, I’ve been told that they are on track, and we will perhaps assess it,” he said.

He also made it clear that the selectors do not interfere with medical assessments or speculate about whether players are managing injuries during matches.

“Now, whether they have been playing with something, I am not sure. I go by what the physio tells me, and I have full faith in what the Indian physio tells me,” Agarkar said.

Nitish Kumar Reddy Impresses Selectors with All-Round Progress

Agarkar also spoke at length about young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, who has earned spots in both India’s Test and ODI squads following impressive development in his bowling alongside consistent batting performances.

Reddy, who has been working on his pace and skillset under renowned fast bowling coach Steffan Jones during IPL 2026 with Sunrisers Hyderabad, is seen as a key long-term prospect for India’s all-round balance.

The chief selector said the panel has been closely tracking his progress and is encouraged by the improvements he has shown in recent months.

“It’s very important, and I think we have all seen a lot of progress. Particularly, we know he has been really good with the bat. But we have seen a lot of progress over the last few months with regard to his bowling as well,” Agarkar said.

He added that India’s long-term planning, especially keeping future overseas assignments in mind, makes players like Reddy extremely valuable.

“It is about giving people exposure. He is still quite young in his career, even though he might have been around since that Australia trip,” he noted.

Agarkar further stressed that India’s future squad balance will heavily rely on developing seam-bowling all-rounders who can contribute in multiple departments.

“So the more experience you give them, like you mentioned, going to South Africa, we are going to need guys, ideally seam bowling all-rounders. If we can find some that will give us a little bit of balance, he certainly fits the bill,” he said.

According to Agarkar, Reddy’s current fitness status is also positive, which strengthens his case for continued selection.

“He is fit at this point, and we hope he stays fit because the more he plays, he is going to get better. There is no doubt about it,” he said.

Selectors Welcome Depth Amid Selection Challenges

Addressing India’s growing depth in white-ball cricket, Agarkar acknowledged that selecting squads has become increasingly competitive, particularly with new talents such as Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, and Harsh Dubey earning maiden ODI call-ups.

He admitted that while the abundance of options makes selection more complex, it is ultimately a positive sign for Indian cricket.

“I don’t read what’s going on social media. So, I don’t know what’s going on,” he said with a smile.

“But obviously, the other selectors, or the coach or captain who is involved, we have discussions on what’s the right balance for the team. So, the more options there are, the better your headache is.”

Agarkar concluded that India’s current depth in white-ball cricket is a strong advantage heading into a busy international cycle, even if it makes selection decisions more challenging.

“At this point, certainly in white-ball cricket, we are blessed with a lot of options. So, no, I think the job is very difficult, but in a good way because there are more options,” he said.

Outlook for Afghanistan Series

With India set to face Afghanistan in a short but significant ODI series ahead of a packed international calendar, the final squad composition will depend heavily on fitness updates for key players like Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya. At the same time, the selectors appear focused on building squad depth and testing emerging talent as part of a long-term roadmap leading into future ICC events.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)