Fully fit Rohit Sharma resumes batting, Shubman Gill missing from India's practice session

Star cricketer Rohit Sharma has regained full fitness and resumed batting during the net session ahead of the first ODI between India and Afghanistan. Meanwhile, skipper Shubman Gill was nowhere to be seen in the practice session, while most other members, including first-timers Harsh Dubey and Prince Yadav, also attended the drill at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) posted a video from the first practice session ahead of the crucial ODI assignment on their official social media handles where Rohit was seen warming up in full rhythm, having recently recovered from his hamstring injury. Rohit received his fitness clearance from the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, where he had checked in to obtain a green signal before joining the team.

ODI mode: Activated 🔛 #TeamIndia putting in the hard yards ahead of the #INDvAFG ODI series 💪@IDFCFIRSTBank

Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya, who was also included in the side subject to fitness clearance, did well enough to impress the Sports Science Department at the CoE. However, while doing his rehabilitation drills in Bengaluru, he picked up another quadriceps injury, which has now ruled him out of the series. Reports have suggested that Hardik will require another three weeks to fully recover from the new injury.

For the unversed, star batter Virat Kohli is another significant injury blow to the Indian team ahead of the series due to a hamstring issue. Kohli is expected to join the team in the United Kingdom when the team tours for a white-ball series against England in July. The Men in Blue have replaced Yashasvi Jaiswal in place of the experienced cricketer.

India are yet to name a replacement for Hardik ahead of the three-match series. However, names like Shivam Dube, Saransh Jain, and Aquib Nabi are the ones who have been with the side recently and might be given an opportunity in the stead of the star all-rounder.

Shubman Gill (C), Shreyas Iyer (VC), Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Prasidh Krishna and Gurnoor Brar