Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka has hailed pace sensation Prince Yadav after the right-arm fast bowler received his maiden India call-up for the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan. The recognition comes after Prince’s breakout run in the IPL 2026, where he played a major role in LSG’s bowling unit despite the franchise having an uneven season overall.
BCCI announces squads for Afghanistan tour next month
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed squads on Tuesday for two separate competitions against Afghanistan to be staged in India next month. The schedule begins with a one-off Test match, followed by a three-game ODI series.
- One-off Test: starts on June 6
- ODI series: begins on June 14 and continues until June 20
Goenka’s praise for Prince Yadav’s rise
In the wake of the squad announcement, Goenka congratulated Prince Yadav, sharing a post on X along with a message celebrating the youngster’s progress. He described Prince’s IPL campaign as a joy to watch and pointed to his temperament and fearlessness when facing top-level opposition.
Goenka’s reaction highlighted the “heart” and “hunger” Prince has shown this season, adding that his call-up is only the start of what could be a bigger journey. He also expressed pride on behalf of LSG, urging Prince to make India proud.
Prince’s IPL impact and India’s leadership setup
Prince earned attention across the IPL 2026 campaign for his pace, precision, and composure in difficult phases, establishing himself as one of LSG’s standout wicket-taking options. His maiden India ODI selection follows that strong showing, with 16 wickets recorded during the tournament.
India’s captaincy and leadership arrangements have also been set for the fixtures. Shubman Gill will captain the side across both formats. In the Test squad, KL Rahul has been named vice-captain, replacing Rishabh Pant. For the ODIs, Shreyas Iyer has been appointed as deputy to Gill.
India ODI squad: batting mix, wicketkeeper role, and bowling plan
The ODI group includes a blend of experienced top-order batters and specialist roles. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli return to the top order, while Ishan Kishan is included as the second wicketkeeper in the squad alongside the primary keeper option.
India’s pace bowling unit for the three ODIs is expected to be led by Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, and Gurnoor Brar. Kuldeep Yadav has been named to spearhead the spin department.
- Top order: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli
- Wicketkeeping: Ishan Kishan as the second wicketkeeper
- Fast bowling: Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar
- Spin: Kuldeep Yadav to lead the attack
India Test squad: new inclusions and Jadeja rested
The Test squad also features several changes, with fresh faces included for the longer format. Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, and Harsh Dubey have been named in the group, bringing additional options into the mix.
Ravindra Jadeja, a senior all-rounder, has been rested for the one-off Test match against Afghanistan.
- New Test squad names: Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey
- Rested: Ravindra Jadeja
