The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will announce the squad for India’s one-off Test match against Afghanistan. The match is crucial as it is going to be a part of the World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle.
The Afghanistan cricket team is ranked lower in the ICC Test rankings, but that does not mean that the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel is going to select a whole new team for the match. Before announcing the team, the selection panel keeps assessing multiple things, including the players’ form and workload management.
It was previously reported that due to workload management, the pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is likely to be rested, while the batting unit is likely to remain unchanged except for a few spots. According to the previous reports, the selectors could take a bold call for the number three batting spot. A significant shuffle can be made in the bowling department.
Like Jasprit Bumrah, a final call is yet to be made on another pacer, Mohammed Siraj, who had featured in back-to-back Tests before the 2026 T20 World Cup. A latest report of The Times of India indicates that the selectors may have thought broadly for the spin bowling all-rounder department as well.
Ravindra Jadeja vs Axar Patel
As the Test match will be played under the scorching sun of June in Himachal Pradesh, the spinners can take a crucial role to decide the fate of the contest. For the spin bowling department, there are Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, both of whom are proven in their respective terms. Will the board choose both of them or choose either Jadeja or Patel? It is a debatable topic. “
Yet, will it be Jadeja or Axar Patel? Or someone else? It's anybody's guess at the moment, but a discussion is set to happen regarding this slot,” according to the report.
Ishan Kishan or Rishabh Pant?
Who will be the backup keeper for the team? That’s another question. KL Rahul, who is in good form in the Indian Premier League and performed consistently for Team India as well in the Whites, is likely to be named for the one-off Test. Rahul can be the first-choice keeper-batter.
If the selection panel selects KL as their first choice keeper-batter, then who will be the second, Rishabh Pant or Ishan Kishan? Experience-wise, Pant is well ahead of Ishan Kishan. But Ishan Kishan is leading Pant in terms of recent performances. The surge of the Jharkhand cricket team captain proved impactful for India’s T20 World Cup campaign.
In the ongoing IPL 2026 season, too, Ishan Kishan is doing well for the Sunrisers Hyderabad. On the side, Rishabh Pant, the keeper-batter and the captain of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), is far from his best.
“Rishabh Pant has been part of the set-up but has fallen out of favour due to his inconsistent returns with the bat in the IPL. With Ishan Kishan's stocks on a bull run since his return to the T20Is, it will not be a surprise if he gets a look in,” it is informed in the report.
Read More: No wrist concerns! Suryakumar Yadav retains India T20I captaincy as Iyer, Samson kept waiting
Hence then, the article about ajit agarkar and gautam gambhir faces major selection dilemma over rishabh pant kl rahul and ishan kishan was published today ( ) and is available on cricketaddictor ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Ajit Agarkar and Gautam Gambhir faces major selection dilemma over Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan )
Also on site :
- Twins To Recall Zebby Matthews
- License To Deliver: Some Midwives Break the Law To Assist With Home Births
- Nepal in a bind as US-China drone war reaches Everest