The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday named the Indian squads for the upcoming one-off Test and three-match ODI series against Afghanistan, with a mix of experienced names and fresh faces earning selection.
India will first play a standalone Test in Mullanpur beginning on June 6 before taking on Afghanistan in a three-match ODI series from June 14 to June 20. The ODI matches are scheduled to be played in Dharamsala, Lucknow and Chennai.
Rohit, Hardik included subject to fitness clearance
Senior players Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya were included in the ODI squad, although chief selector Ajit Agarkar clarified that both players would need to clear fitness tests before being available for selection.
Shubman Gill has been appointed captain for the ODI series, while Shreyas Iyer has been named vice-captain. Virat Kohli also returns to the white-ball set-up.
KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan have been picked as the wicketkeeping options for the ODI series.
New faces get opportunity
The selectors have also handed opportunities to several emerging players. Gurnoor Brar, Prince Yadav and Harsh Dubey were included in the ODI squad as part of a 15-member group.
Pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for the ODI assignment.
For the Test side, spin bowler Manav Suthar and left-arm pacer Gurnoor Brar received maiden call-ups. Both players are teammates at IPL franchise Gujarat Titans.
Prince Yadav is another new inclusion in the ODI line-up.
KL Rahul named test vice-captain
In the Test squad, KL Rahul has been appointed vice-captain, replacing Rishabh Pant in the leadership role alongside captain Shubman Gill.
Senior all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been rested for the one-off Test.
The selection meeting was held by the Ajit Agarkar-led senior men’s selection committee, which finalised the squads for the home series against Afghanistan.
India test squad
Shubman Gill (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (vice-captain), Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant, Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey, Dhruv Jurel.
India ODI squad
Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Prince Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey.
