Kohli fitness test set ahead of England ODIs; Hardik resumes training
Synopsis
Two of India's biggest match-winners are in a race against the clock. Virat Kohli's hamstring clearance and Hardik Pandya's recovery from a leg niggle will together determine the shape of India's ODI squad for England — and the selectors have just days to decide whether to wait or move on.
Key Takeaways
Virat Kohli is set to undergo a fitness assessment at the BCCI Centre of Excellence ahead of squad selection for the England ODI series (14–19 July) .
Kohli has been recovering from a hamstring injury sustained during the IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad , where he scored 75 not out for Royal Challengers Bengaluru .
Hardik Pandya resumed light training at the CoE roughly four to five days ago after a week's break, recovering from a leg niggle.
Pandya's medical report will be submitted to the BCCI through the CoE medical team before selectors decide on his availability.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar was seen in Sri Lanka monitoring the India A 50-over tri-series ahead of squad finalisation.
The selection committee is expected to convene in the coming week to pick the England ODI squad.
Virat Kohli is set to undergo a fitness assessment at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru ahead of chief selector Ajit Agarkar's selection committee convening to pick India's squad for the ODI series in England, scheduled from 14 to 19 July across Birmingham, Cardiff, and Lord's. The evaluation is expected to determine whether the star batter can return to action after a hamstring injury that ruled him out of India's ongoing ODI series against Afghanistan.
How Kohli's Injury Unfolded
Kohli sustained the hamstring injury during the IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad, where he scored a match-winning 75 not out for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He has since been undergoing rehabilitation while based in London. According to a source tracking the development, Kohli is expected to report to the BCCI CoE for his fitness clearance 'very soon' — potentially after his One8 brand holds its first-ever Global Premiere event at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi, on Sunday. 'If all goes well, then Kohli can be included for ODIs against England,' the source said.
Hardik Pandya Resumes Light Training
Seam-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya has separately resumed light training at the CoE facility in Bengaluru, working his way back from a leg niggle that kept him out of the Afghanistan ODIs. Pandya had been at the CoE since 2 June to seek fitness clearance after a back niggle caused him to miss a couple of matches for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026. According to the same source, Pandya resumed light training roughly four to five days ago following a week's break, and the intensity of his sessions is expected to increase gradually over the next two days.
What the Selectors Will Decide
Pandya's medical report is to be submitted to the BCCI through the CoE medical team, on the basis of which the selectors will take a call on his availability for the England tour. 'Basically, it's up to the selectors and team management to decide — like will they wait for him to be fully match fit or not take him to England so that he builds up full fitness needed to play an ODI game,' the source added. The selection committee is expected to meet in the coming week to finalise the squad.
Agarkar Scouts India A in Sri Lanka
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar was recently spotted in Sri Lanka, keeping a close watch on the India A team competing in the 50-over tri-series. His presence there signals that the selection panel is actively assessing depth options, which could influence squad composition if either Kohli or Pandya fails to clear their respective fitness tests in time.
What Comes Next
The fitness clearances for both Kohli and Pandya will be pivotal in shaping India's ODI squad for England. With the first match just weeks away, the BCCI and selectors face a tight window to make final calls on two of India's most influential players. The coming days are expected to be decisive.
Point of View
Yet both are chronically cycling through injury and rehab. The selectors face a genuine dilemma: picking a half-fit Kohli or Pandya risks aggravating injuries on a tour with no buffer matches, while leaving them out weakens the batting and all-round balance significantly. What this moment also reveals is that the BCCI's CoE, for all its infrastructure investment, has yet to produce a reliable injury-prevention track record for its biggest stars. The England series may force a harder conversation about workload management that the board has so far avoided.
NationPress
20 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Virat Kohli undergoing a fitness test before the England ODI series?
Kohli sustained a hamstring injury during the IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad and missed India's ongoing ODI series against Afghanistan as a result. He must clear a fitness assessment at the BCCI Centre of Excellence before being considered for selection for the England ODIs, which run from 14 to 19 July.
When and where is India's ODI series against England in 2026?
The ODI series is scheduled from 14 to 19 July 2026, with matches to be played in Birmingham, Cardiff, and Lord's.
What is the status of Hardik Pandya's fitness ahead of the England tour?
Hardik Pandya has resumed light training at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru after a leg niggle ruled him out of the Afghanistan ODIs. He restarted sessions roughly four to five days ago following a week's break, and his medical report will be submitted to the BCCI for the selectors to assess his availability.
Who is picking India's squad for the England ODI series?
The selection committee led by chief selector Ajit Agarkar will convene in the coming week to finalise India's ODI squad for England. Agarkar was recently in Sri Lanka monitoring the India A 50-over tri-series.
What injury kept Kohli out of the Afghanistan ODI series?
Kohli sustained a hamstring injury during the IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad, where he scored 75 not out for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He has been undergoing rehabilitation in London since then.
