Team India Squad Announced for Afghanistan Series: New Faces and Senior Stars Included

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced the Indian cricket team squads for the upcoming multi-format series against Afghanistan, scheduled to take place in June. This announcement comes amidst the ongoing excitement of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, which is set to conclude with its final match on May 31. Immediately following the conclusion of the domestic T20 league, the national team will transition back to international duties to host Afghanistan for a comprehensive series consisting of a one-off Test match and a three-match One Day International (ODI) series.

Selection Committee Meeting and Key Decisions

The Men's Selection Committee convened for a crucial meeting on May 19 in Guwahati to finalize the rosters for both the Test and ODI formats. During this meeting, the committee focused on balancing the squad with experienced veterans and promising young talent. One of the most significant decisions made was to rest India's premier fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, for the entire duration of the Afghanistan series. This move is part of a strategic workload management plan to ensure Bumrah remains fit and fresh for the subsequent high-profile tour of England. In his absence, the leadership mantle for both the Test and ODI sides has been handed to Shubman Gill, who will captain the squads during this home assignment.

Historical Context and Test Match Details

The series will kick off with a historic one-off Test match starting on June 6 at the New Chandigarh stadium in Mullanpur. This encounter marks a significant milestone as it's the first time Afghanistan will play a Test match against India since 2018. The last time these two nations met in the longest format was during Afghanistan's inaugural Test match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru in 2018. In that memorable fixture, India secured a dominant victory, winning by an innings and 262 runs. The upcoming match in Mullanpur is expected to be a platform for several new players to showcase their skills in the red-ball format.

New Faces and Maiden Call-ups

The selection committee has introduced several fresh faces into the national setup, rewarding consistent performances in domestic cricket. Manav Suthar has received his maiden call-up to the Indian Test squad. Meanwhile, Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey have achieved the rare feat of being selected for both the Test and ODI squads simultaneously, while in the ODI department, Prince Yadav has earned his first-ever selection for the national team. These inclusions signal the BCCI's intent to broaden the talent pool and provide international exposure to emerging cricketers ahead of future major tournaments.

Full Schedule of Afghanistan's Tour of India

The tour is structured to provide high-octane cricketing action across different venues in India.

Official Squad for the One-off Test Match

The 14-member squad selected for the Test match against Afghanistan includes: Shubman Gill (Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant, Devdutt Padikkal, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey, and Dhruv Jurel.

Official Squad for the ODI Series

The squad for the three-match ODI series features a mix of senior stars and new entrants: Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, and Harsh Dubey, while the inclusion of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the ODI squad ensures that the team maintains its core strength while integrating new players like Nitish Reddy and Prince Yadav into the limited-overs setup.