India will host Afghanistan for a one-off Test match and three ODIs next month. The BCCI selection committee is expected to pick the squads for the series on May 19.
With three days remaining for the squad announcement, a report published in PTI claims that pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah feature in either the Test or the ODI series to manage his workload.
Delhi pacer Prince Yadav is under serious consideration by the selectors, considering his impressive performance in the last edition of the national one-day championship. He claimed 17 scalps from 8 Vijay Hazare Trophy games.
Moreover, Prince has emerged as a top contender for the Purple Cap while playing for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the ongoing IPL 2026, taking 16 wickets in 12 games. He grabbed headlines after knocking over the legendary Virat Kohli for a duck with a sharp-nipping delivery.
Since Harshit Rana is unlikely to get fit anytime soon, Prince could earn his maiden India call-up for the Afghanistan series.
The Ajit Agarkar-led committee is expected to stick to tried-and-tested faces for the red-ball format, looking toward the upcoming away series in Sri Lanka and New Zealand.
According to sources, if Bumrah plays the solitary Test, he will be rested for the ODIs, and vice-versa. In case he doesn't play the Test match, the new-ball attack is likely to be spearheaded by Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.
With both Akash Deep and Harshit are sidelined with injuries, Jammu and Kashmir seamer Auqib Nabi, who rose to fame with 60 wickets in the last Ranji Trophy season, might be picked as the reserve pacer. Nabi will face tough competition from pace-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy.
In the batting line-up, Devdutt Padikkal might replace Sai Sudharsan at No. 3. The other options for the one down slot will be Washington Sundar and Dhruv Jurel.
As far as the spinners are concerned, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Sundar are locked in as automatic selections.
Axar Patel’s spot in the Test setup is under scrutiny, and he could face tough competition from Manav Suthar, though former’s experience might ultimately help him retain his place. Rishabh Pant and Jurel are automatic choices for the wicketkeeper-batter slot.
The one-off Test, which isn't a part of the WTC 2025-27 cycle, will be played in New Chandigarh from June 6-10, while the three ODIs will take place in Dharamsala on June 14, Lucknow on June 17 and Chennai on June 20 respectively.
(With PTI Inputs)
