BCCI asks bowling hopefuls increase workload ahead of one-off Afghanistan Test, decision on no.3 spot to be taken- Report

India and Afghanistan to play a solitary Test in New Chandigarh from June 6 to 10.

The BCCI has reportedly asked the Indian players in contention for the upcoming one-off Test between India and Afghanistan to begin preparing for the same and increase their workload. India will play a solitary Test against Afghanistan from June 6 to 10 in New Chandigarh.

The Test will be followed by three ODIs against the same opposition in Dharamsala, Lucknow, and Chennai from June 14–20, 2026.

As per the Times of India report, there have been no red flags raised by the BCCI medical team, signaling a full-strength batting group, led by captain Shubman Gill, to play in the Afghanistan Test.

"The initial plan was to keep monitoring the players' workload, and the medical team has not found any red flags at the moment regarding the batting group. There is still a week before the IPL playoffs picture becomes clearer, but all the regular batters—KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant—are all set to take the field for the Afghanistan Test. The BCCI gets regular data on player workload during the IPL and is satisfied with what it has seen so far," a source told Times of India.

However, concerns are about the bowling group, as the BCCI doesn’t want to burn their first-choice pacers in the June heat. Jasprit Bumrah is unlikely to play in this Test, as it is not part of the World Test Championship (WTC 2027).

Participation of Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna depends on a late decision, as the selectors want their premier pacers fresh for the Sri Lanka tour.

"The bowling group is where changes are expected, as workload management is likely to kick in. There is no point burning the bowlers out for this fixture, and it is also a great opportunity for selectors to test some quicks and spinners ahead of the all-important Test series in Sri Lanka," adds the source.

The source also stated that a big call is expected for the batter for the no. 3 spot on the Indian Test team. This is keeping an eye on the tours of Sri Lanka and New Zealand later this year.

Sai Sudharsan got an extended run at the no. 3 spot in England and at home as well, but the returns have been meager. The focus has shifted to Devdutt Padikkal, who has been in terrific form in domestic cricket with 543 runs in the Ranji Trophy and had an even better tally of 725 runs from just nine innings in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Karnataka.

Ajit Agarkar, the chairman of the men's senior selection committee, expedited the 25-year-old into the Test lineup for the home series against England, and he may make a comeback when the selectors meet again.

Because they are dissatisfied with the batting order mobility and stopgap arrangements in the Playing XI, the selectors are also likely to press for experts in the longest format.

(Times of India report)