India face Afghans with eye on away Tests in Sri Lanka and NZ

More than six months after suffering their heaviest Test defeat, India will renew their acquaintance with the red-ball format through a one-off Test against Afghanistan, starting on Saturday when the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium will go into the history books as the country’s 31st Test venue. game-sweetbonanza.com

Beaten by a massive 408 runs by South Africa in November in Guwahati’s debut as a Test centre, India will hope for gladder tidings in a match outside the ambit of the World Test Championship. For the only home Test this calendar year, India have rested the storied bowling duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja, as much to keep them fresh for the nine Tests in store between August and March as to try out other options, primary among them one of the uncapped left-arm spin pair of Manav Suthar or Harsh Dubey.

Head coach Gautam Gambhir confirmed on Friday that Sai Sudharsan will continue to occupy the No. 3 slot, which means Karnataka skipper Devdutt Padikkal must wait to add to his tally of two Test caps. Sudharsan has had a patchy run in the five-day game, even if six appearances aren’t a huge sample size. He is coming off another stirring run for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026 and must capitalise on this show of faith as India gear up for away Tests in Sri Lanka in August and New Zealand in November-December.

India need a string of victories in Sri Lanka and New Zealand, and in the five-match home showdown against Australia early next year, to reignite their WTC designs. While they will take nothing for granted against Hashmatullah Shahidi’s men, who will be without national hero Rashid Khan, they will use this game to try things out with the Sri Lanka tour in mind. One of those is how Suthar or Dubey stands up to the challenge of international cricket. The other could revolve around a toss-up between Dhruv Jurel, as a specialist No. 6, and Nitish Kumar Reddy, the all-rounder who failed to build on his Boxing Day Test ton in 2024.

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Rishabh Pant, stripped of the Test vice-captaincy, will be desperate to shake off a disappointing few days — he no longer leads Lucknow Super Giants — with a statement knock in his 50th Test. Afghanistan’s aspirations will centre around more than stretching the match to a third day, which they failed to do in Bengaluru eight years back.

One
No of Test matches played between India and Afghanistan — in 2018 at Bengaluru

Indian cricket is heading towards another major transition, and this time, all the spotlight is on the 15-year-old wonderkid Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The teenage sensation recently landed in Sri Lanka with the India A team for the upcoming one-day tri-series this month.

After dominating the IPL 2026, Vaibhav is all set to be seen in the India jersey in the upcoming one-day tri-series involving Sri Lanka A and Afghanistan A. India A will also play two multi-day matches against Sri Lanka A, with the squad for the red-ball fixtures to be announced soon.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi appears disturbed in Sri Lanka

As the one-day tri-series is set to get underway on June 9 in Dambulla, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi landed in Sri Lanka with the India A squad, but he did not look excited or his usual cheerful self.

Read Also: Hardik Pandya injury update: BCCI receives final verdict from CoE

In the viral photos and videos across social media platforms, the youngster appeared quiet and disappointed. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi did not seem comfortable and looked slightly frustrated while interacting with fans and posing for photographs with them.

Actually, the pressure around Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has grown massively over the last few months. From being a promising youngster to becoming one of the most talked-about names in world cricket, the left-handed batter’s life has changed completely.

To manage this, Rajasthan Royals team manager Romi Bhinder was observed closely monitoring the 15-year-old prodigy during the IPL 2026. So, many have now been slamming the BCCI for not appointing someone who could guide and help him.

This is the exact reason, Rajasthan Royals had Romi bhinder trail Vaibahv like a shadow.

But this BCCI viz filled with incompetent nepo products and political clowns, which doesn't have the foresight to appoint a guardian alongside him. @BCCI @JayShah @MithunManhas pic.twitter.com/u03IbwwKXK

— Gangadhar (@gangadhar_11) June 5, 2026

As soon as Vaibhav Suryavanshi arrived in Sri Lanka, he looked a bit upset. There was sadness and slight frustration visible on his face. He also seemed bothered by the fans, and his disappointment was clearly noticeable while taking pictures with them.👀 pic.twitter.com/8H48R1VLld

— 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) June 5, 2026

Shreyas Iyer set to become India's T20I captain as selectors plan massive shake-up

Meanwhile, the Indian cricket team is preparing for a fresh chapter in the T20 format. Just a few months after leading India to T20 World Cup glory, Suryakumar Yadav has reportedly lost the captaincy role, with Shreyas Iyer emerging as the new leader for the shortest format.

A similar thing happened when Rohit Sharma's successful Champions Trophy campaign was followed by a leadership change, with Shubman Gill taking charge of the ODI side. The Indian selectors are all set to meet at the BCCI headquarters on June 6, and they are expected to make a big call on Shubman Gill continuing to be India’s Test and ODI captain.

Read Also: Ravindra Jadeja's successor Manav Suthar makes India Test debut, receives cap from Kuldeep Yadav

The selectors are likely to finalize the future direction of India's T20 team, keeping in mind the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. India is expected to field a strong team to defend its gold medal, and several young players could find themselves under serious consideration.

Will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi force his way into Team India?

Well, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has forced his way into selection discussions after producing one of the most incredible IPL seasons ever. But the biggest question is whether the 15-year-old will find a place in the upcoming T20I squad, as there have been so many options at the top of the order.

However, if they opt for a rotation policy, he can get his chance. Vaibhav finished IPL 2026 as the leading run-scorer with 776 runs in 16 matches. He averaged 48.50 and scored at a stunning strike rate of 237.31. The RR batter also created history by smashing 72 sixes in a single season.

Hardik Pandya is all set to play the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan as he has been declared fit by the BCCI’s Center of Excellence (CoE). On the morning of June 6, when Team India is up against Afghanistan for the one-off Test in New Chandigarh, the fitness update of Hardik Pandya has arrived.

Pandya is among the players who are uncertain to take part in the India vs Afghanistan ODI series. The Board of Control for Cricket in India named the pace bowling all-rounder in the squad, but his participation was subject to his fitness status.

Hardik Pandya is fit and fine to face Afghanistan.

During the IPL 2026 campaign, Hardik Pandya missed a few matches for the Mumbai Indians because of a back spasm. Because of the injury setback, he missed multiple matches during the latter half of the tournament. Although he made his return during the Mumbai Indians’ last match of the campaign, his fitness was under concern.

As per the latest updates, the CoE has declared Hardik Pandya fit, and the board has received his clearance certificate as well. Which means, the star all-rounder has no issue to take fields for the national side for the 3-match home One Day International series. Ahead of the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup, Hardik Pandya will be desperate to prove himself after enduring an underwhelming Indian Premier League season in 2026.

Rohit Sharma's fitness update is yet to come.

Like Pandya, Rohit Sharma’s fitness is also under the scanner. The experienced opener injured his hamstring during the IPL 2026 season and missed a few matches as well. He made his comeback during the campaign, but played mostly as an impact player for the Mumbai Indians.

“The Centre of Excellence has declared Hardik Pandya fit. The team management has received their report. He will play in the ODI series against Afghanistan. He will prove to be an important player for next year's ODI World Cup. Now, only Rohit Sharma's fitness report is pending,” Abhishek Tripathi, a Dainik Jagran reporter, informed on today on ‘X’.

सेंट्रल आफ एक्सीलेंस ने हार्दिक पांड्या को फिट घोषित किया। टीम प्रबंधन को उनकी रिपोर्ट मिल गई है। वह अफगानिस्तान के विरुद्ध वनडे सीरीज खेलेंगे। अगले साल होने वाले वन दे विश्व कप के लिए वह महत्वपूर्ण खिलाड़ी साबित होंगे। अब सिर्फ रोहित शर्मा की फिटनेस रिपोर्ट आना बाकी है।…

— Abhishek Tripathi / अभिषेक त्रिपाठी (@abhishereporter) June 6, 2026

Virat Kohli ruled out of the ODI series

Meanwhile, because of a hamstring tear, Virat Kohli, who was about to play in the ODI series, has been ruled out of the contest entirely. As per the latest updates, the batter may require six weeks to recover his fitness. During these six weeks, he will have to do recovery sessions as well.

It is learnt that Virat Kohli picked up the injury during the IPL 2026 final. He might have played the match with an injury. It is reported that he has consulted with a renowned orthopedic regarding his injury issue, and came to know that it would take a substantial amount of time to recover fully. However, no surgery will be needed to heal the injury.

As of now, Virat Kohli is injured, final reports on Rohit Sharma’s fitness are yet to come, and Hardik Pandya is declared fit to play. The three-match ODI series between India and Afghanistan will start on Saturday, June 13.

Like Rohit Sharma, two other star players of India, Varun Chakravarthy and Harshit Rana, are also recovering from separate injury issues. Rana missed the IPL 2026 season entirely because of a ligament strain. He is expected to receive clearance by June 17.

Varun Chakravarthy is also uncertain for the three-match ODI series, as he had a hairline fracture during his stint with the Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026.

Read More: India field Test XI without Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin after 16 years, 69 Tests

Shahbaz Ahmed will be leading Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers in the ongoing Bengal T20 League. Shahbaz, who did not have a great IPL 2026 season for Lucknow Super Giants, has been recently included in the 30-member probable for the upcoming Asian Games.

The 31-year-old felt that Rishabh Pant’s decision to step down from LSG captaincy was not driven by issues within the team. According to Shahbaz, it was primarily to focus on his batting. In this exclusive chat with Revsportz, Shahbaz opens up on Pant’s captaincy, LSG’s disappointing season, inputs from Bharat Arun, competition with Harsh Dubey, his red-ball performance being underrated, and much more. Here are the excerpts:

What do you think was the reason behind Lucknow Super Giants’ disappointing IPL 2026 season?

Shahbaz Ahmed: I think Lucknow Super Giants had a very good squad. In the first half of the tournament, our bowling unit performed really well, but the batting unit struggled to put up big scores. In the second half, our batting improved significantly and we started scoring heavily, but our bowling could not consistently complement it. When batting and bowling do not click together, it becomes difficult to win matches. I do not think there was any major issue within the team. Personally, I did not get many opportunities this season, but I worked hard and gave my best. I believe that effort will pay off somewhere down the line.

Rishabh Pant recently decided to step down from LSG captaincy. Having played under him, how would you assess him as a captain?

Shahbaz Ahmed: Rishabh is a very good friend of mine. We played together in Delhi as well. However, when a team is not performing well, the captain naturally comes under scrutiny. Perhaps he felt that stepping down was the right decision for him. As far as I know, it was a personal decision rather than something driven by issues within the team. From what I have seen on social media, it appears to have been a personal decision, and perhaps he wanted to focus more on his batting.

Was there any frustration due to the lack of opportunities over the last two seasons at LSG?

Shahbaz Ahmed: Yes, over the last two seasons, I have not played much cricket for Lucknow. However, it is important to remember that I did get an opportunity in the first match as an Impact Player. Unfortunately, I could not perform well with either bat or ball. Perhaps after that, the management felt other options would be better for the team. Every player wants to play and contribute, but if you do not perform, there is no guarantee of a place in the playing XI. All 24 players in the squad are talented. I got my opportunity, but I could not make the most of it.

You mentioned the Impact Player rule. As an all-rounder, what is your view on it?

Shahbaz Ahmed: This debate comes up after every IPL season. I agree with what Sachin Tendulkar has said about the rule. Initially, I also felt that Impact Players reduced opportunities for all-rounders. However, when I look around now, India’s best all-rounders—such as Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, and Harsh Dubey—are playing regularly. What I do feel is that the rule puts additional pressure on bowlers. The extra batter gives batting units greater freedom to attack. As a result, bowlers are often under tremendous pressure, and nobody talks enough about that aspect. The batting side gets an extra cushion, which allows them to play more aggressively.

Last season in the Ranji Trophy, you scored more than 400 runs and took nearly 40 wickets. Do you feel your red-ball performances are underrated?

Shahbaz Ahmed: I have understood one thing about cricket: until your team wins, individual performances do not receive the same value. If Bengal had won the semi-final and then gone on to win the Ranji Trophy last season, those performances would have been appreciated much more. Selectors naturally focus on players who perform in winning teams. Therefore, I do not blame anyone. My aim is to help my team win trophies. If I can do that, recognition will follow automatically.

Harsh Dubey and Manav Suthar have been rewarded with opportunities in the one-off test against Afghanistan. Do you ever feel you should have received similar opportunities?

Shahbaz Ahmed: Harsh and Manav have performed exceptionally well. They have done well in domestic cricket, India A cricket, and the IPL. They fully deserve the opportunities they are getting. Ultimately, it is the selectors’ decision. Different formats require different skill sets, and every format now has a slightly different team. There are plenty of opportunities for everyone. My focus is on performing wherever I play and ensuring the selectors continue to notice my performances.

How has your experience been working with Bharat Arun at LSG?

Shahbaz Ahmed: I did not play many matches this season, but after the first game, when I was left out, Bharat Arun Sir and I had several discussions. We spoke about my bowling, technical aspects, planning, and areas where I could improve. I asked him a lot of questions about how I could become a better cricketer and contribute more effectively. He gave me valuable advice. In fact, I learned a lot during the periods when I was not playing. Those conversations were particularly important for my bowling development. The best part was that I could speak openly with him. As an Indian coach with vast experience, he understands what players go through mentally and can guide them accordingly.

You will captain the Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers in the Bengal Pro T20 League. How are you looking at this responsibility?

Shahbaz Ahmed: The last two seasons have not been great for the franchise. Although I played only one match last season, we analysed the shortcomings of the team in detail with the coaches and management. The auction allowed us to rebuild the squad. We have addressed several key areas and assembled a balanced team. Both the management and I are satisfied with the squad we have put together, and we are optimistic about the upcoming season.

Bengal appears to have been placed in a relatively easier group in the upcoming Ranji Trophy. What are your thoughts?

Shahbaz Ahmed: There is no such thing as an easy group or an easy opponent until you actually win the match. Even in the previous season, we had opportunities to progress further but could not capitalise on them. At this stage, we are waiting to see which players are selected, who is available, and how the squad shapes up before the season begins.

Follow REVSPORTZ for more updates.

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