Rohit Sharma lights up the nets session to declare his fitness in style ahead of IND vs AFG ODI series

Rohit Sharma has officially joined the Indian ODI squad during a light training session in Mohali, effectively silencing all rumors regarding his availability for the upcoming series against Afghanistan. Having initially been named in the squad subject to fitness clearance, the veteran opener received the green light from the BCCI Centre of Excellence. This crucial clearance confirms he will be leading India's batting charge in the three-match series, which is set to kick off in Dharamsala on June 13.

All-fit Rohit Sharma hits the nets in style

Even with a star-studded squad assembling on the field, the spotlight naturally gravity-pulled toward the 39-year-old Mumbaikar the moment he stepped out. While newly-appointed T20 captain Shreyas Iyer and young batting sensation Yashasvi Jaiswal were present, and youngsters like Gurnoor Brar, Prince Yadav, and Harsh Dubey quietly went about their routines, all eyes remained fixed on Rohit’s long-awaited return.

Taking a cautious but positive step back into active training, Rohit started his session away from the batting nets. He began with a brief discussion with strength and conditioning coach Adrian Le Roux before moving on to ease into a series of shuttle runs. Accompanied by Ishan Kishan throughout the drills, Rohit successfully completed multiple sets of running exercises without showing any visible signs of discomfort.

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Rohit Sharma's batting session catches eyeballs

But what caught everyone's eyes was the moment Rohit Sharma padded up to bat. Hit-man alternated his time between the fast bowlers' and spinners' nets, with every single movement and stroke being closely monitored by those present. The initial stages of his stint were predictably scratchy, as young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy managed to trap him LBW with a sharp in-cutter. Rohit initially focused on finding his rhythm rather than looking for quick runs, resulting in several cautious leaves, tentative defensive pushes, and a handful of play-and-miss moments.

As the session progressed, however, the veteran batsman's timing visibly improved. His defensive strokes began finding the exact middle of the bat, paving the way for his trademark fluency to emerge. This was highlighted when he fluidly flicked left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh over deep mid-wicket and used delicate finesse to guide a wide yorker from Prince Yadav through the gaps.

Despite the positive signs, a few imperfections remained in his game. A sharp, short delivery from Gurnoor Brar induced a mistimed pull shot, and a few other balls managed to beat his outside edge, but the overall forward progression was undeniable. By the time Rohit transitioned to facing the spinners, he looked significantly more assured, effortlessly launching a series of classic straight sixes against an off-spinner that put his elite class on full display. Ultimately, while Wednesday's net session didn't offer absolute answers about his match fitness, it provided a highly reassuring glimpse of a champion methodically working his way back to his best.