The BCCI has unveiled India’s Test and ODI squads for the upcoming series against Afghanistan, with a one-off red-ball match followed by a three-game one-day set. The Test will begin on June 6 at the PCA New Stadium in Tira, and it will not count toward the ongoing World Test Championship. Afghanistan’s squad will then remain in India for three ODIs scheduled between June 14 and 20, with games set for Dharamsala, Lucknow and Chennai.
The selection announcements were made by chief selectors Ajit Agarkar and BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia after a two-hour meeting in Guwahati. While the squads included multiple debutant names and fresh faces, the process also came with a few painful omissions—most notably in the discussion around Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, whose recent rise has been impossible to ignore.
Agarkar’s main selection talking points
One of the biggest decisions centred on Mohammed Shami. The senior fast bowler has not featured for India since the 2025 Champions Trophy, an ODI event. In Tests, his absence goes back further to 2023, with injury issues playing a major role. After the 2023 ODI World Cup, Shami’s recovery was repeatedly interrupted, keeping him away from action across formats. He returned to the domestic circuit and began building momentum again, but the selectors still felt he was not prepared for the one-off Test against Afghanistan.
Agarkar pointed to the type of cricket Shami was ready for, clarifying that despite a strong domestic run, there was no debate about his inclusion for this particular Test. Shami’s domestic output in the 2025/26 season included 47 wickets in 16 matches—featuring 20 scalps in the Ranji Trophy, 16 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and 11 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Yet, as Agarkar explained, that was not enough to bring him into the Test picture at this stage. “As far as we have been told that at this point… his body is allowing him to play, I know he has played a domestic season this season. But from the information that I have got, it’s T20 cricket that he’s ready for. So there was no discussion regarding him,” Agarkar said during the virtual presser on Tuesday.
The news also dealt a heavy blow to Rishabh Pant, who was left with both a leadership demotion and a format change. Pant lost his vice-captaincy in Tests and, just as importantly, was dropped from the ODI squad. In Tests, KL Rahul has been handed the vice-captaincy role, while Ishan Kishan has been selected as Pant’s replacement in ODIs. Agarkar stressed that KL’s prior experience as Test captain played a role, and also addressed the rationale behind the vice-captaincy shift. “KL has been Test captain before,” Agarkar said. “Obviously, Rishabh was vice-captain and we wanted him to be the best batter he can… So, no, there’s no reason [for the change in vice-captaincy]. That’s the best option we think at this point we have as far as vice-captain with experience [is concerned].”
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, meanwhile, continues to hover close to the national picture. The 15-year-old has been the subject of widespread discussion after his IPL performances, and that impact has now been rewarded with a call-up to the India A squad for an upcoming one-day tri-series involving Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. The pathway is clear—one step nearer to the India cap moment that fans and experts have been anticipating. However, Agarkar indicated that an ODI promotion may still be too early, particularly with Yashasvi Jaiswal already part of the setup as a back-up opener. Even so, the BCCI remains optimistic that Sooryavanshi can make the right impression with India A. “We picked him for the A team. Young, so much promise. We will give them the exposure. Yashavi Jaiswal is part of ODI setup too. As impressive as Sooryavanshi has been, others have done well too. Very excited with him. Hopefully, he shows it when he travels with the A team,” Agarkar said.
Injuries also shaped parts of the squad planning, particularly for the two Mumbai Indians players included in the ODI group. Saikia clarified that both selections depend on fitness clearance. Hardik suffered a back spasm during the ongoing IPL 2026 season and consequently missed the last three matches. Rohit, on the other hand, has played only seven games so far this season, after picking up a right hamstring injury early in the campaign against RCB. He has mainly taken part as an Impact Player, making the final green light on his availability dependent on medical assessment.
Young talent gets opportunities ahead of 2027
Beyond the high-profile calls and injury considerations, the squads also reflect a deliberate focus on the long-term cycle leading into the ODI World Cup in 2027. Several players who have impressed in domestic cricket have been rewarded with maiden ODI call-ups. Fast bowler Prince Yadav, pacer Gurnoor Brar, and left-arm orthodox spin-bowling allrounder Harsh Dubey have all been included for the ODI format.
Harsh Dubey has also found a place in the Test squad, along with another left-arm option, Manav Suthar. Suthar’s first-class record stands out: he has taken 129 wickets in 29 matches at an average of 25.76. His performances for India A against South Africa A impressed the selectors, and he also delivered in the Irani Cup for Rest of India—claiming five wickets and finishing with an unbeaten 56.
Brar, listed at 6 feet 6 inches, has been another prominent name in domestic circuits. He has played 18 first-class matches and nine List A games, and his wicket-taking has been consistent. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he picked up 11 wickets for Punjab, while he also ended as the joint-highest wicket-taker in India A’s four-day contests against Australia A with eight scalps.
Prince Yadav’s rise has carried an extra layer of recognition after his IPL impact, including dismissing Virat Kohli. He went on to become his team’s leading wicket-taker in the tournament and then continued his strong run in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, finishing as the fifth-highest wicket-taker overall with 18 wickets in eight matches.
