Guwahati, May 19: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the Indian team for the lone Test and ODI series against Afghanistan on Tuesday. Notably, experienced all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was not selected for the Test squad. Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar provided insights into this decision.
The single Test match between India and Afghanistan is scheduled to take place in New Chandigarh starting June 6. Following this, a three-match ODI series will be held from June 14 to 20 in Dharamshala, Lucknow, and Chennai.
During a virtual press conference announcing the team, Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar stated, “Ravindra Jadeja is a crucial part of the team. He has been rested for this Test match as we are looking to provide opportunities to other players. He was not selected for this particular Test match.”
Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar, left-arm all-rounder Harsh Dubey, and tall fast bowler Gurnoor Barar have been included in the Indian team for the Test against Afghanistan for the first time.
Ajit Agarkar and BCCI Secretary Devjeet Saikia revealed the 15-member squad on Tuesday. Shubman Gill has been appointed captain, while KL Rahul takes on the role of vice-captain in place of Rishabh Pant. Following impressive performances in domestic cricket, Barar, Suthar, and Dubey have been regular members of the India ‘A’ team.
In addition to Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant, the batting lineup features Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, and Dhruv Jurel. With Ravindra Jadeja rested, the spin bowling duties will be handled by Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar.
The inclusion of Suthar and Dubey indicates the selection committee’s intention to expand India’s spin bowling resources in red-ball cricket. In the fast bowling department, Mohammed Siraj will lead the attack, while Jasprit Bumrah has been rested.
This match against Afghanistan marks India’s first Test since their 2-0 defeat at home to South Africa last year. Although this Test is not part of the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, it holds significant importance for India’s red-ball cricket, especially with upcoming tours against Sri Lanka and New Zealand.
India and Afghanistan have faced each other in only one Test match previously. That encounter, held in 2018 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, concluded in just two days, with India winning by an innings and 262 runs.
India’s ODI Team: Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma (fitness pending), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (Vice-Captain), KL Rahul (Wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (Wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya (fitness pending), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Barar, and Harsh Dubey.
India’s Test Team: Shubman Gill (Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Rishabh Pant (Wicketkeeper), Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Harsh Dubey, and Gurnoor Barar.
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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