![Shubman Gill and Jasprit Bumrah [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1776742588615_GillBumrahIndiavsAfghanistan.jpg?type=hq)
Shubman Gill and Jasprit Bumrah [Source: AFP]
According to emerging reports, the Ajit Agarkar-led BCCI selection committee might exclude the experienced duo of Shubman Gill and Jasprit Bumrah from the India squad vs Afghanistan. After the conclusion of the IPL 2026, the Indian team will face Afghanistan in a one-off Test and three ODIs.
The Afghanistan tour of India 2026 kicks off with a one-off Test at the Mullanpur Stadium in New Chandigarh, which will host a Test match for the very first time. The one-off Test will be followed by three ODIs, which will be played between June 14 and 20.
As the BCCI selection committee starts shortlisting the probables for the India squad Vs Afghanistan, an exclusive Times Of India (TOI) report has claimed that Shubman Gill and Jasprit Bumrah will likely miss out on selection.
BCCI to rest Shubman Gill and Jasprit Bumrah for India vs Afghanistan series
The Indian team has enjoyed stellar success in international cricket of late. Led by Suryakumar Yadav, the Men in Blue clinched the Asia Cup trophy before securing their third T20 World Cup title earlier this year.
However, the performance of the Test side has been entirely contrasting to that of the white-ball teams. Under Shubman Gill's leadership, India secured a fighting 2-2 draw in England before South Africa handed them a crushing 2-0 whitewash in their own backyard.
The Indian team's middling Test returns have marginalised its chances of qualifying for the WTC final, as it currently claims the sixth spot in the standings.
However, as the one-off Test against Afghanistan isn't a part of the WTC fixtures, the BCCI selection committee is considering resting some IPL-bound senior players, including Shubman Gill and Jasprit Bumrah, for workload management.
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The IPL 2026 concludes on June 6, while the India vs Afghanistan one-off Test commences on June 10.
So, given that Shubman Gill and Jasprit Bumrah will actively represent Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians, respectively, throughout the tournament, the BCCI selection committee could rest the experienced duo for the Afghanistan series, which doesn't carry much significance for not being a part of the WTC 2025-27.
Why is Gill and Bumrah's workload management important?
Shubman Gill and Jasprit Bumrah are expected to be two of the most significant members of the Indian ODI team for the 2027 World Cup.
As these two players have suffered several injury setbacks, the BCCI aims to keep them fit for the ODI cycle by judiciously managing their workload in the remaining formats.
Bumrah's career has primarily been marred by back injury, while Shubman Gill has been troubled by a recurring neck injury, which ruled him out of the home series against South Africa.
Given their history of injuries, the BCCI has decided to take a cautious approach and manage their workload ahead of the World Cup.
Will Shubman Gill and Jasprit Bumrah return for IND vs AFG ODIs?
The TOI report claims that although Gill and Bumrah could be rested for the one-off Test at Mullanpur Stadium, they will likely return to the India ODI squad Vs Afghanistan.
The Indian team will start preparations for the 2027 World Cup edition with the home series, and Gill and Bumrah will be expected to form the core of the India ODI squad vs Afghanistan.
Talking about the one-off Test, the BCCI could rope in multiple fresh faces for the Mullanpur encounter, with the focus currently being on some extraordinary domestic performers- including Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey, Devdutt Padikkal and Nitish Kumar Reddy.
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