India vs Afghanistan ODIs: Rohit Sharma Returns to Training as Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ishan Kishan Impress in Mohali

India’s optional practice session ahead of the first ODI against Afghanistan in Dharamsala on June 13 offered early signs of how the teams may shape up, with focus on the fitness of Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya, the form of India’s batting group, and Afghanistan’s preparations for the series. Rohit, who was included in the squad subject to fitness, looked increasingly comfortable after beginning the session with light running and then moving into centre-wicket practice. He was tested early by left-arm quick N. Reddy, whose first delivery hit him on the pads, but Rohit soon settled and later produced his trademark pull shot. Hardik Pandya, however, is expected to miss the series because of a leg strain, leaving India to rethink their balance.

With Pandya likely unavailable, Nitish Reddy emerged as India’s leading seam-bowling allrounder option. He troubled Rohit with pace and bounce, then spent a long time batting himself, first against spin and later against the fast bowlers. Reddy also had a detailed discussion with batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, underlining the team’s interest in his role with both bat and ball.

Ishan Kishan was one of the most aggressive batters in the nets, attacking the spinners from the start and repeatedly clearing midwicket. He then carried that intent into the pace-bowling net. With Virat Kohli absent from the squad, Kishan could be considered for a role at No. 3, although KL Rahul remains the likely first-choice wicketkeeper. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Kohli’s replacement in the squad, also looked fluent. He was the only player from India’s one-off Test XI against Afghanistan to attend the session and showed no hesitation in going aerial early in his batting.

Newly appointed T20I captain Shreyas Iyer also took time to find rhythm before growing more comfortable as the session progressed. Among the bowlers, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar and Prince Yadav all completed their spells, while captain Shubman Gill, Rahul, Prasidh Krishna and head coach Gautam Gambhir skipped the practice.

Afghanistan’s training later in the day began with catching drills before moving to the nets. Mohammad Saleem, fresh from a six-wicket performance in the Test, bowled alongside Azmatullah Omarzai to openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran. Saleem generated good pace and bounce to challenge Gurbaz, while Zadran appeared more controlled and composed. Zadran, who had not been fully fit for the Test, arrives in the ODI series in better touch after scoring two fifties in two List A matches at home.

The Afghanistan camp also featured a light moment involving AM Ghazanfar and Raghu Sharma, who had previously shared a dressing room at Mumbai Indians during IPL 2026. Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi were absent from the session, with Nabi unwell and Rashid expected to join the team directly in Dharamsala.