In a major administrative and tactical overhaul, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Senior Men’s Selection Committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar, officially announced both the Test and ODI squads for the upcoming bilateral home assignment against Afghanistan.
While the major headline marks the high-profile return of modern greats Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to the One-Day International format, the selection has sent shockwaves through the cricketing fraternity by stripping flamboyant wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant of his leadership duties in red-ball cricket and dropping him entirely from the white-ball roster.
Stylish top-order batter Shubman Gill has been tasked with leading both contingents. In a decisive move, K.L. Rahul replaces Pant as the vice-captain for the historic one-off Test match. For the subsequent three-match ODI series, explosive middle-order anchor Shreyas Iyer has been named Gill’s structural deputy. Chief selector Agarkar confirmed that pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has been intentionally rested for both legs under strict workload management guidelines, ensuring his peak physical conditioning for India’s crucial multi-format tour of England later this summer.
The Squad Blueprints: Test and ODI Selection Framework
The home leg against Afghanistan kicks off with a one-off Test match at the newly established PCA Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, starting June 6. This will quickly transition into a fast-paced three-match ODI series scheduled from June 14, stretching across iconic venues in Dharamshala, Lucknow, and Chennai.
IND vs AFG Bilateral Series Matrix (June 2026):
• The Leadership Axis: Shubman Gill (C Across Formats), KL Rahul (Test VC), Shreyas Iyer (ODI VC).
• Red-Ball Window: June 6–June 10 at PCA Stadium, Mullanpur (New Chandigarh).
• White-Ball Window: June 14–June 21 across Dharamshala, Lucknow, and Chennai.
• Strategic Absences: Jasprit Bumrah (Rested for England Tour), Ravindra Jadeja (Rested for Test).
• Major Comebacks: Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli (ODIs), Ishan Kishan (ODI Backup Wicketkeeper).
Breakout Stars & Fresh Faces from Domestic Circuit
The selection committee heavily rewarded exceptional performances from the domestic stability charts and the Indian Premier League. Left-arm orthodox spin prodigy Manav Suthar and express fast bowler Gurnoor Brar—who have turned heads as teammates for the Gujarat Titans franchise—received their maiden national Test call-ups. Meanwhile, Vidarbha’s record-shattering Ranji Trophy hero Harsh Dubey has been fast-tracked into both the red-ball and white-ball teams following his historic domestic season.
| Cricket Roster Segment | Selected Players (Test Match) | Selected Players (ODI Series) |
| Top-Order Assets | Shubman Gill (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal | Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli |
| Middle-Order & Keepers | KL Rahul (VC), Rishabh Pant, B. Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel | Shreyas Iyer (VC), KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk) |
| All-Rounder Contingent | Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar | Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar |
| Spin Bowlers | Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Harsh Dubey | Kuldeep Yadav, Harsh Dubey |
| Fast Bowling Battery | Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar | Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar |
The ODI squad features a sensational debut call-up for Lucknow Super Giants’ breakout sensation Prince Yadav. The right-arm quick, who grabbed global headlines during the IPL by clean-bowling elite top-order bats like Travis Head and Virat Kohli with raw continental pace, fills the seam-bowling void alongside Arshdeep Singh. Furthermore, the white-ball unit marks the official return of dynamic left-hander Ishan Kishan as the secondary wicketkeeping choice, setting up an explosive summer of cricket as India fine-tunes its squad transitions under the watchful eyes of the national management.