New Delhi, May 19, 2026 — The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selection committee, chaired by Ajit Agarkar, announced the squads for the upcoming one-off Test and three-match ODI series against Afghanistan today. Shubman Gill will lead both teams, with the series kicking off on June 6 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh (Mullanpur).
This tour marks a significant home assignment for India, blending preparation for future challenges like the 2027 ODI World Cup with opportunities for emerging talents. Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for workload management, while veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli return for the ODIs (subject to fitness for Rohit and Hardik Pandya).
India Test Squad for Afghanistan (One-off Test)
- Shubman Gill (Captain)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- KL Rahul (Vice-Captain)
- Rishabh Pant (wk)
- Sai Sudharsan
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Dhruv Jurel (wk)
- Washington Sundar
- Mohammed Siraj
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Prasidh Krishna
- Manav Suthar
- Harsh Dubey
- Gurnoor Brar
Key Notes: KL Rahul replaces Rishabh Pant as vice-captain. New faces include spinners Manav Suthar and Harsh Dubey, and pacer Gurnoor Brar. Ravindra Jadeja has been rested, and players like Akash Deep were not selected. The squad emphasizes middle-order depth and spin options suited to Indian conditions.
India ODI Squad for Afghanistan (3-Match Series)
- Shubman Gill (Captain)
- Rohit Sharma*
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer (Vice-Captain)
- KL Rahul (wk)
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Hardik Pandya*
- Prince Yadav
- Harsh Dubey
- Arshdeep Singh
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Prasidh Krishna
- Ishan Kishan (wk)
- Washington Sundar
- Gurnoor Brar
( Subject to fitness clearance)*
Key Notes: Rohit and Kohli bring vast experience, with Shreyas Iyer as vice-captain. Debutant Prince Yadav and others like Harsh Dubey and Gurnoor Brar get chances. Bumrah is rested; the squad balances proven stars with all-round depth.
Series Schedule
- Only Test: June 6–10, 2026 – New Chandigarh
- 1st ODI: June 14, 2026 – Dharamsala
- 2nd ODI: June 17, 2026 – Lucknow
- 3rd ODI: June 20, 2026 – Chennai
What It Means
Selectors are using this series to test bench strength while managing workloads ahead of tougher tours, including England. The inclusion of young talents like Nitish Reddy, Washington Sundar, and debutants signals a forward-looking approach, even as icons like Rohit and Kohli anchor the white-ball side.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar highlighted the focus on giving opportunities while keeping key players fresh. Rishabh Pant remains a vital part of the Test setup despite the vice-captaincy change.
India enters as overwhelming favorites against a developing Afghanistan side, but the real story lies in squad evolution and how new players perform on the big stage. Expect exciting cricket as the summer international season heats up.
