New Chandigarh, June 4: The Indian cricket team is gearing up for a single Test match against Afghanistan, set to take place on June 6 in New Chandigarh. Captain Shubman Gill led the first training session on Wednesday as players focused on their preparations.
Most players have recently returned from their IPL commitments. At the PCA Stadium complex in Mullanpur, Indian players participated in a net session, closely monitored by head coach Gautam Gambhir. Newly appointed vice-captain KL Rahul spent significant time batting in the nets alongside opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant.
Shubman Gill, who led the Gujarat Titans to the IPL 2026 finals, joined the national team after the tournament. He was actively involved in the session with fielding coach T. Dilip.
During the practice, India’s pace attack showcased considerable effort. Fast bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna bowled long spells. However, Siraj’s participation in the Test match remains uncertain due to potential workload management issues after playing every match in the IPL.
If Siraj is rested, uncapped fast bowler Aaqib Nabi from Jammu and Kashmir is likely to be called up. He had an impressive domestic season, taking 60 wickets in the Ranji Trophy. Nabi is currently part of a group of net bowlers assisting the Indian team, which includes Gurjapneet Singh, Prince Yadav, Saransh Jain, Zeeshan Ansari, and Shivang Kumar. Another key player in this camp is fast bowler Mayank Yadav, who has joined as a net bowler.
The Indian squad for the Test match against Afghanistan includes: Shubman Gill (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (vice-captain), Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Barar, Harsh Dubey, and Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper).
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