India Test Squad vs Afghanistan Undergoes Modifications, IPL Stars Heavily Added

Fresh faces added in India Test squad [Source: AFP]

The IPL is over, and the focus now shifts towards the international matches as Team India regroups for the upcoming Afghanistan challenge. India’s first international assignment after the IPL will be up against the touring Afghanistan team, with the two nations playing a one-off Test, followed by three ODIs.

The Test match won’t be a part of the WTC cycle, but it provides several newcomers a chance to get used to the Indian team and get a taste of international cricket. Similarly, with the ODI World Cup next year, the Afghanistan matches will help India to know their best possible combination for the marquee event.

However, ahead of the one-off India vs Afghanistan Test match, the BCCI has included six new players in the Test squad, and they will be an integral part of the red-ball side.

6 fresh faces added in India's Test squad vs Afghanistan

The BCCI released an official update, and according to it, six fresh faces have been added to the Test team vs Afghanistan. Gurjapneet Singh, Auqib Nabi, Prince Yadav, Saransh Jain, Zeeshan Ansari and Shivang Kumar have been drafted in the side, but interestingly, they have come in as net bowlers, and not in the main team.

The six players will assist the Indian team in the buildup to the India vs Afghanistan one-off Test match, and the result for their inclusion is simple. Several Indian bowlers, who have been picked in the Test squad participated in the IPL, and after a gruelling season, they cannot go out flat in the nets, and hence, they'll be given ample rest.

Moreover, all the players who took part in the IPL finals (Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Manav Suthar, and Gurnoor Brar) won’t be available for the first day of training. The batters would need proper training, and for that, new bowlers have been added.

Also Read: Auqib Nabi Joins Team India Before IND vs AFG Test

BCCI giving hint at India's future with inclusion of new players

The Indian cricket team is still going through a transition in Test cricket, and barring a few players, the others are yet to live up to the hype. The India squad for the Afghanistan Test was selected a few days back, but with the team going through fatigue, fresh faces were picked in the side.

By picking these players (even as a net bowler), the BCCI has given a hint that they look at those six players as the future of the Indian Test team. The likes of Gurjapneet Singh and Prince Yadav can be quality pacers in red-ball cricket; similarly, Zeeshan Ansari is a brilliant leg-break bowler, and India needs a quality spinner on their side.

All six players have played in the IPL, and after gaining the IPL experience, the BCCI wants them to get international exposure.

6 star bowlers rewarded for strong performances

Out of the six players picked as net bowlers, four have been rewarded for their outstanding domestic career, while two have been picked after a stellar IPL campaign. The likes of Saransh Jain, Auqib Nabi, Zeeshan Ansari, and, to some extent, Gurjapneet Singh have been drafted into the team on the basis of their strong domestic performances.

In fact, Auqib Nabi finished with 60 wickets in 10 matches, and the board is looking to groom him for the future red-ball games.

The other two bowlers, Shivang Kumar and Prince Yadav, have been rewarded by the BCCI for showcasing exemplary performance in the IPL. Prince Yadav was also picked in the India ODI squad vs Afghanistan after he came into the limelight in the IPL 2026.

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