Morkel Opens Up on Rohit’s Fitness and Virat’s Replacement Ahead of Afghanistan ODIs

Rohit Gets Fitness Green Signal, India Set to Experiment With Kohli’s No. 3 Role Against Afghanistan

India bowling coach Morne Morkel has put to rest doubts over Rohit Sharma’s fitness ahead of the ODI series against Afghanistan, confirming that the captain is fully fit and available for selection. The three-match series, beginning June 13 in Dharamsala, will also serve as an opportunity for India to test batting combinations in the absence of Virat Kohli.

Rohit had faced fitness concerns after struggling with a hamstring injury during IPL 2026, where Mumbai Indians often used him as an Impact Player. Fresh speculation surfaced when the 38-year-old was spotted training with extra padding around his thigh during India’s preparations. However, Morkel insisted there was no cause for concern.

“He’s passed all his fitness tests and has been cleared to play. Extra protection is normal when you’re facing fast bowling. Rohit is moving well, training well and is ready to go,” Morkel said ahead of the opening ODI.

The return of Rohit comes as a major boost for India, who are without several senior players. Virat Kohli has been sidelined after suffering an injury during the IPL final, while Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for the series.

With Kohli unavailable, India’s management is keen to use the Afghanistan ODIs to assess potential options for the No. 3 position. Morkel revealed that Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan could all be tried in the role as the team explores different combinations ahead of future assignments.

“We’ll use this series to give players opportunities in different batting positions. Whether it’s Yashasvi, Ishan or KL, we want to build flexibility and understand what combinations work best for us,” Morkel explained.

India’s middle order will continue to feature experienced names such as vice-captain Shreyas Iyer, while all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy is expected to take on greater responsibility following Hardik Pandya’s injury-enforced absence.

The Afghanistan series marks the beginning of India’s next phase of ODI planning, with the team management focused on identifying depth and refining combinations for major tournaments ahead.