India announces squad adjustments for Afghanistan tour with workload management focus
New call-ups include Prince Yadav and Gurnoor Brar, while Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya return to ODI setup
India has announced its squad for the upcoming Test and One Day International (ODI) series against Afghanistan, retaining the core group from previous assignments while implementing strategic workload management. The central figures of the ODI lineup, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, remain in the setup, but key players Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah have been rested. This decision has opened opportunities for new call-ups across both formats, including pacers Prince Yadav and Gurnoor Brar, all-rounder Harsh Dubey, and spinner Manav Suthar.
Shubman Gill will captain India in the one-off Test match, returning to leadership duties after withdrawing from the first Test against South Africa due to injury. The Test squad sees the inclusion of Prasad Krishna, who strengthens the pace attack in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence. Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey have also been selected for the red-ball side, alongside new spinner Manav Suthar, as the board continues to invest in younger options for the format. Axar Patel and pacer Akash Deep, who were part of the last Test squad against South Africa, do not feature in the Afghanistan lineup.
In the ODI setup, Ishan Kishan returns following strong domestic form and momentum from the T20 World Cup selection process. With Rishabh Pant absent, Kishan slots in as the additional wicketkeeping option alongside KL Rahul. Hardik Pandya also returns to the ODI squad, although his participation is contingent on receiving fitness clearance. His inclusion addresses the absence of a frontline pace-bowling all-rounder since the 2025 Champions Trophy.
The most notable new face in the ODI squad is Prince Yadav, who receives his maiden call-up after impressing selectors with his pace and hard-length bowling during the IPL 2026. Gurnoor Brar has also earned a spot in the limited-overs side, contributing to India’s efforts to test fast bowling depth in the absence of injured pacer Harshit Rana.
Several high-profile players miss out on the Afghanistan tour. Rishabh Pant, who was withdrawn from the previous ODI squad against New Zealand due to a practice injury, is not included. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj, and Axar Patel are also listed as key absentees. Ayush Badoni, who was part of the ODI squad against New Zealand earlier this year, and Dhruv Jurel have been left out of the current setup.
