The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced India’s squads for the upcoming Test and ODI series against Afghanistan national cricket team, and the selection has created major buzz among cricket fans.
India is scheduled to play:
- One Test match
- Three One-Day Internationals (ODIs)
against Afghanistan in June 2026.
The biggest talking point from the squad announcement is the inclusion of several young and emerging players, while many experienced names have either been rested, dropped, or ruled out due to injuries.
The selectors have introduced four new faces:
- Harsh Dubey
- Gurnoor Brar
- Prince Yadav
- Manav Suthar
Senior Players Miss Out on Selection
Several well-known Indian cricketers will not feature in the Afghanistan series.
Players Rested or Ruled Out
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Axar Patel
- Jasprit Bumrah
have reportedly been rested.
Meanwhile, Akash Deep is unavailable for the Test match due to injury.
Several Big Names Missing from ODI Squad
A number of established players have also been excluded from the ODI squad, including:
- Rishabh Pant
- Mohammed Siraj
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Ayush Badoni
- Harshit Rana
Reports suggest:
- Harshit Rana missed out due to injury
- Pant and Siraj were reportedly dropped based on recent performances
- Team management wants to test fresh spin options in place of Ravindra Jadeja
India last played a Test series against South Africa national cricket team.
Four New Players Receive Big Opportunity
The Afghanistan series could become a major breakthrough moment for several young domestic stars.
Gurnoor Brar Earns Maiden India Call-Up
Punjab pacer Gurnoor Brar has been selected for both the Test and ODI squads for the first time.
Career Highlights
- List A debut against Goa in December 2022
- IPL debut for Punjab Kings in 2023
- Later picked by Gujarat Titans for ₹1.30 crore
Domestic Record
- First-Class: 18 matches, 52 wickets
- Best Bowling: 5/14
- List A: 9 matches, 12 wickets
- Domestic T20: 9 matches, 10 wickets
Harsh Dubey Selected for Both Formats
Spinner Harsh Dubey has been picked for both the Test and ODI squads.
Dubey impressed selectors with his outstanding domestic performances for Vidarbha cricket team.
His sensational 2024–25 Ranji Trophy season, where he claimed 69 wickets, brought him into national attention.
Career Numbers
- First-Class: 27 matches, 133 wickets
- Best Bowling: 6/36
- List A: 30 matches, 31 wickets
- Domestic T20: 38 matches, 34 wickets
- IPL: 11 matches, 13 wickets
Prince Yadav Included in ODI Squad
Right-arm pacer Prince Yadav has been selected only for the ODI series.
He impressed during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with:
- 11 wickets
- Economy rate of 7.54
He also emerged as Delhi’s highest wicket-taker in the tournament.
Career Stats
- First-Class: 2 matches, 1 wicket
- List A: 14 matches, 29 wickets
- Domestic T20: 33 matches, 38 wickets
- IPL: 18 matches, 19 wickets
Manav Suthar Gets Test Team Opportunity
Manav Suthar has been selected only for the Test squad.
The Rajasthan spinner has built a strong reputation through consistent domestic performances and IPL appearances for Gujarat Titans.
His impressive 2022–23 Ranji Trophy season helped him gain national attention.
Career Record
- First-Class: 29 matches, 129 wickets
- Best Bowling: 8/33
- List A: 25 matches, 34 wickets
- Domestic T20: 29 matches, 25 wickets
- IPL: 5 matches, 2 wickets
BCCI Focuses on Youth Ahead of Future Challenges
Cricket experts believe these selections indicate that the BCCI and team management are gradually preparing a new generation of players for India’s future across formats.
The Afghanistan series is expected to provide:
- Valuable international exposure
- Opportunity for young domestic performers
- Squad experimentation before bigger tournaments
With several senior stars rested or unavailable, the upcoming series could become a major platform for India’s next wave of cricket talent to prove themselves on the international stage.
