New Chandigarh, June 4: The Indian cricket team is facing uncertainty regarding the participation of two former captains, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, in the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan. Both players have retired from Test and T20 formats, and fans are eager to see them in more ODI matches as they approach the twilight of their careers.
During a press conference ahead of the Test match against Afghanistan starting Saturday, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate addressed the fitness concerns surrounding Rohit and Kohli.
Ten Doeschate stated, “When players like Virat or Rohit are unavailable, it’s significant news. We will assess their fitness, and we have a few days to determine if they are fit enough to play and be part of the team. Official updates will be provided as soon as the medical team makes a decision regarding Rohit and Virat.”
He also shared his thoughts on centrally contracted players who continued to play during the later stages of the IPL despite injuries.
The assistant coach remarked, “I believe each player’s situation is unique. From India’s perspective, we want our players to be in their best form when on international duty. Therefore, it’s essential to handle each case individually. I understand that this is a crucial time of the year for these players. The IPL is a fantastic domestic tournament, so it’s about balancing both aspects. Considering the workload during the last IPL—especially for a significant portion of contracted players—we have managed quite well, and injuries are part of the game.”
He added, “You cannot protect players by not playing them, but we must identify critical parts of the international schedule and ensure our best players remain injury-free and in peak physical condition when we need them the most.”
The Indian team selected for the ODI series against Afghanistan includes Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Hardik Pandya. However, due to fitness issues, the participation of all three players in the ODI series currently seems doubtful.
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