MUMBAI: India’s senior men’s selection panel, chaired by Ajit Agarkar, is set to assemble on May 19 to choose the squads for a one-off Test and a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan in June. The decision has been confirmed by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, who said the committee will meet to finalise the teams for the home assignment after the IPL ends.
While Mumbai is viewed as the leading option for the selectors’ meeting, reports suggest the venue could also be Guwahati or another city. An online format has not been ruled out either, depending on scheduling and logistics. Before the formal session, the panel is also expected to conduct an informal virtual discussion on May 17, with a particular eye on a handful of specific names—especially among emerging pace bowlers who have made an impact in recent months.
The one-off Test is scheduled for June 6-10 in New Chandigarh. The ODI leg will take place on June 14 in Dharamshala, June 17 in Lucknow, and June 20 in Chennai. Shubman Gill is expected to be handed the captaincy for both the Test and the ODI series.
Attention, though, is likely to be centred on workload management for India’s leading fast bowlers following a long and demanding IPL campaign. Jasprit Bumrah, in particular, is expected to be a key focus area. There has also been talk that some senior players may be given rest, partly because the one-off Test does not fall within the World Test Championship cycle. At present, no player has officially requested a break, but discussions around managing player workload are expected to play a prominent role in the selection process.
In the limited-overs group, there is also expected to be some debate over the wicketkeeper-batter slot. Vice-captain Rishabh Pant’s position in the ODI XI has come under scrutiny, with Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan pushing their cases after steady displays. However, KL Rahul is still expected to retain the role of first-choice keeper-batter for the Afghanistan series.
The Afghanistan tour will open a new chapter for the visitors under head coach Richard Pybus. As part of their preparation, Afghanistan have been conducting a high-performance camp in Kabul. Their lead-up, though, has faced turbulence, with a planned white-ball series against Sri Lanka in the UAE in March being postponed due to the situation involving Iran.
