The All-India Senior Men’s Selection Committee is set to meet on May 19 to finalise India’s squad for a solitary Test and a trio of one-day internationals against Afghanistan. The biggest question hovering over the group is how Jasprit Bumrah’s workload will be handled, with the fast bowler having been on the move for months—first featuring in the T20 World Cup and then turning out for Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2026.
With an eye on keeping Bumrah fresh, the decision could be that he is used in only one format rather than stretched across both the Test and the ODIs. The one-off Test, scheduled in Dharamsala from June 6 to 10, falls outside the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, which strengthens the argument for resting him for that match.
Quick facts: Bumrah, Afghanistan assignment
- Selection meeting: May 19 to choose squad for one-off Test and three ODIs vs Afghanistan
- Focus player: Jasprit Bumrah and managing his workload
- Test venue and dates: Dharamsala, June 6 to 10
- Test status: not part of the WTC cycle
- Likely usage approach: Bumrah may play either the Test or the three ODIs, not both
- If Bumrah sits out the Test: Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna likely to lead the pace attack
- If Bumrah plays the Test: Auqib Nabi could miss out on immediate opportunity
- Current IPL 2026 form: three wickets in 12 games
Inside the BCCI setup, the selection thinking is understood to be built around resting Bumrah whenever possible. That means he is unlikely to be asked to shoulder the full burden across the Afghanistan schedule; instead, he would be assigned to just one of the competitions.
If Bumrah is kept out of the Test, the pace unit would likely be anchored by Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna. However, if the speedster is named in the Test squad, Auqib Nabi—who enjoyed a breakthrough Ranji Trophy campaign for Jammu and Kashmir—may have to wait longer for his opening.
Bumrah’s recent workload has been under the microscope for a while. Last year, several analysts criticised his limited Test involvement, citing that he appeared in only three Tests during the five-match England series as part of workload management. After that spell, though, he returned to action for the full set of matches against the West Indies and South Africa.
Turning to his current rhythm in the IPL 2026, Bumrah has hit a rough patch with just three wickets from 12 matches. Still, the Mumbai Indians captaincy moment has brought a new context: he led the franchise for the first time in the absence of both Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav, and the five-time champions went on to secure a win against Punjab Kings.
There could also be movement in the batting order. Devdutt Padikkal may be considered to slot in at No. 3, potentially replacing Sai Sudharsan. Other candidates for that position include Washington Sundar and Dhruv Jurel.
ODI picture: who could get a maiden call-up
As for the ODIs, the format carries extra weight for India’s stars because it is the only one where Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are set to feature in the upcoming set-up. Among the contenders, Delhi’s Prince Yadav is in contention for a first ODI call-up, with his IPL 2026 form for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) drawing attention.
Prince’s case isn’t based solely on league cricket. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Delhi, he was similarly productive, taking 17 wickets across eight matches, reinforcing his impact in the 50-over arena. With Harshit Rana still not fully recovered from an injury, the selectors may be inclined to reward Prince with an ODI opportunity.
