BCCI Identifies Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj Replacements For India vs Afghanistan Test

 Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Ajit Agarkar and Gautam Gambhir [Source: AFP]

With IPL 2026 nearing the conclusion, attention is slowly shifting towards international cricket. For Team India, the focus will soon move to the upcoming home series against Afghanistan, where the two teams will face each other in a one-off Test and a three-match ODI series in June 2026.

Ahead of the Test match, several reports have emerged regarding India’s bowling combination. The discussions are mainly around the workload management of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna. 

With IPL playoffs approaching, the BCCI and selectors are closely monitoring the fitness and workload of the fast bowlers before finalising India's squad for Afghanistan Test.

Afghanistan is scheduled to tour India in June 2026

Afghanistan will tour India in June 2026 for a multi-format series featuring one Test match and three ODIs. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has already confirmed the schedule for the tour.

Also Read: BCCI Springs Into Action, Initiates Massive Call On Auqib Nabi's India Debut

The one-off Test match will be played from June 6 to June 10 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh. After the Test, the ODI series will begin on June 14 in Dharamshala before moving to Lucknow and Chennai.

India vs Afghanistan Schedule 2026

BCCI to take bold steps for bowling unit for IND vs AFG one-off Test

According to a report from the Times of India (TOI), the BCCI is expected to hold discussions with the selectors either this weekend or next week to finalise the bowling attack for the Afghanistan Test. 

Earlier reports suggested that the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee is likely to retain the core batting unit, but changes in the bowling department are still being discussed.

The selectors reportedly want to field the strongest possible XI for IND vs AFG One-Off Test. At the same time, workload management remains a major concern for India's premier fast bowlers.

Jasprit Bumrah's fitness and workload have been carefully managed over the last few years. Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna are also under observation, especially because Gujarat Titans are expected to qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs.

Meanwhile, injuries have further complicated India's pace-bowling plans. Akash Deep had already been ruled out of IPL 2026 due to a lower back stress injury. 

Star pacer Harshit Rana was ruled out of the season after suffering a severe ligament strain in his right knee during a T20 World Cup warm-up game earlier this year.

With some frontline bowlers unavailable, selectors have reportedly asked a few young pacers to increase their workload during IPL 2026 as reported by the TOI.

Auqib Nabi, Anshul Kamboj And Gurnoor Brar in limelight

Indian quicks Anshul Kamboj and Gurnoor Brar have remained on the selectors' radar since last year and have also been part of the India 'A' setup.

"The selectors don’t believe in compromising the Test squad just because India are playing Afghanistan. They want the best lineup to play. They don’t want to distribute Test caps so easily. Siraj’s workload threshold is very high. Prasidh hasn’t played an IPL match since April 24."

"Nitish Kumar Reddy is also seen as someone who can contribute to the seam-bowling department. The BCCI monitors all data points when it comes to workload management,” a BCCI source said to TOI.

Another young fast bowler attracting attention is Auqib Nabi. The Jammu and Kashmir pacer impressed everyone with his outstanding performance in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season, where he finished as the tournament's leading wicket-taker. 

His performances played a major role in Jammu and Kashmir winning their maiden Ranji Trophy title. 

So, with less than a month left for the India vs Afghanistan Test, it would be interesting to see how the selectors plan India's squad and especially the bowling unit that revolves around Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah.

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