Afghanistan have named their squads for a one-off Test and a three-match ODI series against India. Hashmatullah Shahidi will captain both the Test and ODI sides in what promises to be a significant series for Afghan cricket.
The series begins with the solitary Test on June 6 in New Chandigarh, followed by ODIs in Dharamsala on June 13, Lucknow on June 17, and Chennai on June 20.
Afghanistan Test Squad: Key Inclusions and Absences
The one-off Test will mark Afghanistan’s first red-ball meeting against India since 2018, when Afghanistan made their Test debut. That alone makes this contest significant, and the squad selection has already drawn attention.
The most notable absentees from the Test squad are star spinner Rashid Khan and batter Ibrahim Zadran, although both players have been included in the ODI squad.
The Test squad features maiden call-ups for Nangyal Kharoti, Bilal Sami and Rahmanullah Zadran, while spinner Qais Ahmad returns to the setup. Sediqullah Atal and Azmatullah Omarzai have also been included, with both players having featured in just one Test match so far, against Zimbabwe in 2024.
Afghanistan Test Squad
Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Abdul Malik, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rahmanullah Zadran, Afsar Zazai (wk), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Azmatullah Omarzai, Sharafudin Ashraf, Nangyal Kharotai, Qais Ahmad, Bilal Sami, Zia Sharifi, Saleem Safi.
Afghanistan ODI Squad: Rashid and Ibrahim Return
While Rashid Khan and Ibrahim Zadran were left out of the Test setup, both have been recalled for the white-ball leg of the series. Their presence strengthens Afghanistan’s ODI side considerably.
The ODI squad is experienced and well-balanced, with match-winners across all departments.
Afghanistan ODI Squad
Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharotai, AM Ghazanfar, Zia U Rahman Sharifi, Fareed Malik, Bilal Sami.
India Squads: Bumrah Rested, Rohit and Hardik Subject to Fitness
Jasprit Bumrah was the most notable absentee from India’s squads, with the team continuing to focus on his workload management after a busy few months of cricket.
KL Rahul has been appointed vice-captain for the one-off Test, while Shreyas Iyer returns to the ODI squad and will once again serve as Gill’s deputy.
Senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who recently reiterated their commitment to playing at the Cricket World Cup 2027, have been picked for the ODI series, although the participation of Rohit and Hardik Pandya will depend on fitness clearance from the BCCI.
Harsh Dubey, Gurnoor Brar, and Prince Yadav, who have been selected only for the ODIs, have earned their first-ever India call-ups.
India Test Squad
Shubman Gill (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (vc), Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Manav Suthar, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey.
India ODI Squad
Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma*, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Arshdeep Singh, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya*, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey.
*subject to fitness
Series Context: Post-T20 World Cup and a Historic Test Return
This will be India’s return to action following their Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 triumph at home and after the conclusion of the Indian Premier League. The timing means both sides come into the series with considerable momentum and fresh energy.
For Afghanistan, this series is an opportunity to test themselves in red-ball cricket against one of the world’s top sides for the first time in eight years. The new faces in their Test squad suggest a degree of rebuilding and long-term planning in the longer format.
The ODI series, however, sets up as a competitive contest. With Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz in their lineup, Afghanistan are no pushovers in white-ball cricket. India, even without Bumrah, carry significant firepower with Kohli, Rohit — fitness permitting — and a group of exciting new talents getting their first taste of international cricket.
All four matches will be played in India, with the series wrapping up in Chennai on June 20.
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