India coach provides Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya injury update ahead …

Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya are yet to get clearances at the BCCI’s Center of Excellence (CoE) for the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan. Ahead of the 3-match ODI series, the host nation has been dealing with multiple injury threats. albergomalica.it

After the dominating win against Afghanistan in the one-off Test on Monday in New Chandigarh, India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak provided some vital inputs about Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya’s chances to play the ODI series, starting on June 13 in Dharamshala.

Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya are uncertain for the IND vs AFG ODI series

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has named both Rohit and Hardik for the ODI series, but their participation is depending one their fitness status. If they receive nods from the CoE, only then will they be able to take the grounds against Afghanistan.

Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya both had to miss multiple matches during the IPL 2026 season with the Mumbai Indians. While Rohit had a hamstring issue, Pandya reportedly missed a few IPL 2026 games because of a back spasm. During the league, the nature of the injuries of these two stars was unclear.

However, despite sustaining injuries, both teams returned to action before the conclusion of the group stage. After making the return, Rohit Sharma played for the Mumbai Indians as an impact sub.

Crucial matches in the lead-up to the ODI World Cup 2027

Ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup, all of the upcoming ODI series will be very crucial for the Men in Blue and for the individuals as well. The recent forms of Rohit and Hardik were not satisfying during the Indian Premier League 2026 campaign.

Through the 3-match ODI series against Afghanistan, players will try to prove their antics again to keep themselves in contention, while the selectors will sit down to discuss the squad for the ODI World Cup.

Sitanshu Kotak shares updates on Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya

Sitanshu Kotak is hopeful to get both of the players on board for the ODI series. At the press conference, he claimed that at that moment, he had no confirmed update about both Hardik and Rohit, but he heard that they were fine. According to the procedures, players are liable to prove their fitness through a process at the Center of Excellence in Bengaluru.

“I’ve honestly not got the news whether they have been cleared or not, but I’m sure they’ll be there. Whatever I heard, they are fine. But they have to go and do that fitness test or whatever the rule is. Before coming here (for the press conference), I had not asked the physio when they were actually going,” India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said on Monday.

“The ODI players will join the team here, and there may be a light practice day after tomorrow evening,” he added.

According to a Times of India report, published on their website on June 9, Rohit was due to visit the CoE on Monday, while the younger Pandya brother has been there since June 2.

Read More: "Try to help him": Sitanshu Kotak shares plan to nurture Vaibhav Sooryavanshi during UK tour

New Delhi [India], June 9 (ANI): Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) star batter Virat Kohli reflected on the franchise’s successful IPL 2026 campaign with an emotional post on X, days after the team defended its IPL title with a commanding victory over Gujarat Titans in the final.

RCB clinched their second consecutive IPL crown after defeating Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the summit clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 31, becoming only the third team in tournament history after Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians to successfully defend the title.

Sharing a video on X, Kohli looked back on the team’s journey through the season and highlighted the bond within the squad.

Started the season with belief. Ended with back to back titles.

This team lived every emotion together. The highs, the pressure, the hurdles, and the unwavering support. It feels extra special because… this place is HOME! @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/H02HdsHCX3

— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) June 9, 2026

“Started the season with belief. Ended with back to back titles. This team lived every emotion together. The highs, the pressure, the hurdles, and the unwavering support. It feels extra special because… this place is HOME!" Kohli wrote.

The Rajat Patidar-led side produced a clinical all-round performance in the final. After restricting the Gujarat Titans to 155/8 in 20 overs, RCB chased down the target with five wickets in hand and two overs to spare.

Kohli once again played a decisive role in the title-winning campaign, anchoring the chase with an unbeaten 75 off 42 deliveries, studded with nine fours and three sixes. His knock ensured RCB crossed the finish line comfortably despite a late fightback from Gujarat.

Earlier, Gujarat struggled for momentum after being put into bat. Washington Sundar top-scored with an unbeaten 50 off 37 balls, while Nishant Sindhu contributed 20. RCB’s bowling attack was led by Rasikh Dar Salam (3/27), with Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/29) and Josh Hazlewood (2/37) providing crucial breakthroughs.

In reply, RCB got off to a brisk start through a 62-run opening partnership between Venkatesh Iyer and Kohli. While Gujarat clawed their way back into the contest by reducing RCB to 132/5, Kohli remained unbeaten to guide his side to another historic title.

The veteran batter enjoyed another prolific season, finishing as the fourth-highest run-scorer in IPL 2026. Kohli amassed 675 runs in 16 innings at an average of 56.25 and a strike rate of 165.84, registering one century and five half-centuries, with a highest score of 105 not out. (ANI)

(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)

Ever since Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum have become the face and brain of the England Test team, controversies just haven’t let them breathe. After all the fines and probes done by the England Cricket Board (ECB) after a forgettable Ashes series, another serious episode has taken place.

England captain Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson are being investigated by the ECB following an incident at a London nightclub in the early hours of Monday morning, shortly after England’s 115-run win over New Zealand at Lord’s. According to the ECB, the matter is being treated as a breach of team protocols. The governing body has referred the case to the Cricket Regulator and is gathering further information before deciding on any disciplinary action.

ESPN Cricinfo’s reports suggest the incident involved players from Saracens Rugby Club, who were celebrating the end of their season at the same venue. The disagreement is understood to have originated between Atkinson and an unnamed Saracens academy player.

Crucially, neither Stokes nor Atkinson was injured, and the ECB has not disclosed the precise nature of the incident. However, it is believed to be more serious than simply breaking England’s midnight curfew. Both players are expected to miss the second Test against New Zealand while the investigation continues.

England’s recent off-field controversies

England have faced multiple disciplinary headaches over the last 12 months.

Why is this such a big issue?

The controversy arrives at the worst possible time for England. Only months ago, the team introduced a strict midnight curfew after repeated criticism of players’ behaviour during the Ashes tour of Australia. That tour triggered debate about whether England had developed an unhealthy drinking culture.

The latest incident threatens to reopen those discussions. What makes matters more awkward is that Stokes himself revealed after Sunday’s victory that he was looking forward to enjoying “a proper beer with the boys” following the win.

What happens next? The ECB and cricket regulator will determine whether any disciplinary rules were breached and whether sanctions are warranted.

If Stokes is unavailable, vice-captain Harry Brook is the obvious candidate to lead England in the second Test at The Oval.

The post What happened with Ben Stokes? England captain under ECB investigation after nightclub incident appeared first on Inside Sport India.

If Manav Suthar don’t get you, Washington Sundar will. That was the stark reality which stared Afghanistan in the face as they keeled over without a fight, handing India a record innings-and-300-run victory on the middle day of the one-off Test on Monday.

Exactly what Afghanistan gained from this insipid all-round display is hard to fathom. True, they came into this game with only 12 matches in their eight years as a Test entity, but that can’t be used as an excuse for horrendous shot selection across the two innings. If it was debutant left-arm spinner Suthar who feasted on their largesse in the first knock with a terrific spell of 6-33 that fetched him the Player of the Match award, then off-spinner Sundar was the recipient of their generosity in the second, finishing with 4-36.

Afghanistan lost 14 wickets in a mere 54.4 overs on the third day, shot out for 152 in the first dig and an even more disappointing 112 on the second on a surface that held few terrors. When they resumed on 113-5 in response to India’s 564-8 declared, the big points of interest were how long they would keep the hosts on the field, and whether Shubman Gill would enforce the follow on.

As it turned out, with Suthar continuing to spin a fine web, they lost their last five wickets for just 39 runs, 25 minutes before lunch, and the Indian captain decided an early finish was the need of the hour with his spin-heavy attack having bowled only 58.4 overs.

6-33
Manav Suthar’s figures against Afghanistan on Monday — the second-best by an Indian in a Test debut innings after Narendra Hirwani’s 8-61 vs WI in 1988

Brief scores
India 564-8d beat Afghanistan 152 all out (R Shah 60; M Suthar 6-33, P Krishna 3-37) & 112 all out (S Atal 42; W Sundar 4-36, K Yadav 3-30) by an innings and 300 runs