India squad for Afghanistan Test: Ajit Agarkar & Co face selection questions ...Middle East

With IPL 2026 entering its final stretch, the focus shifts to the Indian cricket team. Shubman Gill will switch his Gujarat Titans jersey for the white as India host Afghanistan in a rare one-off Test, starting June 6, just days after the IPL final. With no time to rest and celebrate IPL success, players will head to Mullanpur for the match, expecting to join the India Test squad by June 3. And that’s where chief selector Ajit Agarkar and his team will face a selection conundrum, not with batters, but with the bowlers and all-rounders.

In all likelihood, for some unknown reason, the BCCI wants to field a full-strength Test squad, maybe to avoid another humiliation at home after South Africa. What will come of it is the mystery, as India’s next Test assignment will be in August against Sri Lanka, which will at least be part of the World Test Championship cycle. The IND vs AFG Test is not part of the WTC, and it’s merely a formality. So, why risk injuries and burnout for players? Nobody knows. Yet, here we are with the India Test squad set to be announced on May 19. 

The Jasprit Bumrah question

The first obvious question is of Jasprit Bumrah. Unlike his many Indian Test teammates, he will have an extended break, thanks to the Mumbai Indians’ poor show in the IPL 2026. With MI playing their last match on May 24, Bumrah will have a 12-day break before the Test series. So, should Bumrah play the IND vs AFG Test? The more prevalent question is, why should he?

Bumrah has had a heavy workload in 2026, including the T20 World Cup and the IPL. And his form with MI clearly suggests that he needs a break. Bumrah has bowled 45 overs in the IPL for just 3 wickets, a poor season by his standards. With focus on ODIs before the World Cup 2027, why play Bumrah in the meaningless one-off Test against Afghanistan and risk missing him in the IND vs AFG ODI series? The selectors will surely discuss that point before announcing the squad. 

Similarly, selectors could also face the same question over Mohammed Siraj. With Gujarat Titans set to qualify for IPL 2026 playoffs, the pacer will have more overs under his belt than many. Selectors might recall Prasidh for the Test, with Siraj in the ODI squad. 

Will Mohammed Shami get a relook?

Out of India’s Test squad since June 2023, Mohammed Shami has knocked on the door with some impressive performances in Ranji Trophy, domestic cricket and IPL. But the question remains, should BCCI look back at Shami, who has struggled with his fitness since his career-threatening injury in World Cup 2023 or move on to younger bowlers? Shami is 35 and may not have enough in him to last this WTC cycle. Instead, looking at him in ODIs could make more sense with the next World Cup in South Africa. 

Call-up for Auqib Nabi?

With 104 wickets in 18 Ranji Trophy matches, Auqib Nabi Dar has constantly knocked on India Test doors. He can not only take wickets, but can also bat, something India is in desperate need of in Tests. That he was instrumental in Jammu & Kashmir’s historic Ranji Trophy title this season would make him one of the first names on the India squad for the Afghanistan Test, right? Not really. 

Despite his Ranji Trophy exploits, he has not found any success in IPL 2026. In fact, he has no wickets to his name in his debut IPL campaign. To make matters worse, his pace is not something selectors are impressed with. In addition, he is still not in India A plans and that could be a hint that Auqib needs to work on his speed to break through. Even Nitish Kumar Reddy was asked to work on his pace and he has. Nabi’s 120-130kph speed could be exposed in international cricket. But considering the IND vs AFG Test is the only option to test bench strength, selectors need to take a call on him.

Sudharsan vs Padikkal

In the quest of finding a replacement for Cheteshwar Pujara at No.3 and Virat Kohli at No.4, Team India have tried many options, often without success. With Shubman Gill finding success at No.4, the No.3 slot remains open. India head coach Gautam Gambhir has gambled that spot with Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal and even Washington Sundar. All have found some success before fading away. India’s Karun Nair gamble in England also fell flat. 

With Nair out of reckoning, the competition is between Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal. In fact, the Karnataka star has been in fine form across formats and would be the favourite to make a claim for that position, even if it’s a one-off Test. 

Axar over Kuldeep?

Another selection conundrum would be whether to pick Axar Patel or Kuldeep Yadav or both. With six IPL matches in Mullanpur and no time to prepare a fresh pitch, it is likely that conditions would be helping spinners more than seamers, unlike IPL. 

With Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja likely to be the two spinners, India could look at a third option, who can bat. Unlike Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel could be that option. Kuldeep’s recent loss of form (7 wickets in 10 innings at 10.67 economy rate in IPL) could make it difficult for him. Hence, Axar could be the right choice for the one-off Test. If India do not need an additional spinner, they can look at Auqib Nabi for batting depth.

Rishabh Pant and vice-captaincy

As per reports, Rishabh Pant’s vice-captaincy is in danger. In fact, he did not impress the team management as the captain in the Test against South Africa in Subman Gill’s absence. In the IPL, he has often been criticised for his captaincy. 

The BCCI believes that if he is relieved of leadership duties, India can regain the aggressive Test batter who won the team some memorable matches. But for a one-off Test, is that really an important discussion? Maybe not. And even if the selectors discuss, they can omit the vice-captaincy role entirely for the IND vs AFG match.

Probable India Test squad vs Afghanistan

Shubman Gill (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Sarfaraz Khan, Devdutt Padikkal, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Auqib Nabi, Axar Patel/Kuldeep Yadav. 

India squad for Afghanistan Test: Ajit Agarkar & Co face selection questions Inside Sport India.

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