- Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya named subject to fitness approval
- Harsh Dubey and Gurnoor Brar earn maiden India call-ups
- KL Rahul appointed Test vice-captain ahead of home series
India have unveiled their squads for next month’s home series against Afghanistan with Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya included despite ongoing fitness concerns.
The selectors included the experienced duo in the One-Day International squad, though the Board of Control for Cricket in India confirmed that both players must receive clearance from the Centre of Excellence before taking the field.
The multi-format series begins less than a week after the conclusion of IPL 2026 and signals another important step in India’s preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Young talents rewarded with maiden India call-ups
The selectors have placed a strong emphasis on emerging talent with Harsh Dubey, Gurnoor Brar, Prince Yadav and Manav Suthar all receiving maiden national call-ups.
Vidarbha all-rounder Dubey and Punjab pacer Brar will feature in both squads, while selectors have drafted Suthar into the Test side and included Prince Yadav in the ODI setup.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar said the management are keen to widen India’s player pool under captain Shubman Gill as the side begins shaping its long-term plans for the next World Cup cycle.
India name Afghanistan series squads with focus on transition
KL Rahul has been named vice-captain of the Test team in a notable leadership decision from the selectors.
Rishabh Pant meanwhile returns as the specialist wicketkeeper after previously holding wider leadership responsibilities within the setup.
Gill continues as captain across formats and will lead a squad blending established stars with several fresh faces eager to impress on the international stage.
Jadeja and Axar left out of both squads
One of the biggest talking points from the announcement was the absence of Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel from both squads.
Agarkar clarified that Jadeja has been rested rather than dropped, with selectors eager to assess younger spin options including Dubey and Suthar during the Afghanistan series.
The move reflects India’s increasing focus on squad transition and experimentation ahead of a packed international calendar.
India squads for Afghanistan series
Test squad
Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (vice-captain), Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, Dhruv Jurel, Harsh Dubey
ODI squad
Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma*, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya*, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey
*Subject to fitness clearance
India vs Afghanistan 2026 schedule
| Match | Date | Time (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Only Test | June 6 to 10 | 9:30 AM | Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Stadium, New Chandigarh |
| First ODI | June 14 | 1:30 PM | HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala |
| Second ODI | June 17 | 1:30 PM | Ekana Stadium, Lucknow |
| Third ODI | June 20 | 1:30 PM | M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
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