The Board of Control for Cricket in India has officially announced the India vs Afghanistan 2026 squads for the upcoming home series starting on June 6. The series includes one Test match and three ODIs.
The biggest talking point from the squad announcement is the leadership change. Shubman Gill has been named captain for both the Test and ODI teams, showing that the selectors are planning for the future with the 2027 ODI World Cup in mind.
At the same time, KL Rahul has been appointed India’s new Test vice captain.
Shubman Gill becomes India’s main leader
Gill’s appointment as captain is a major step in his career. The young batter has already impressed in all formats and now becomes India’s main leader for the IND vs AFG ODI series 2026 and the one off Test.
In the ODI setup, Shreyas Iyer has returned to the squad and will serve as vice captain.
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The selectors seem focused on building a younger leadership group while still keeping experienced names in the squad.
KL Rahul named Test vice captain
One of the biggest surprises from the announcement was KL Rahul replacing Rishabh Pant as Test vice captain.
Rahul has been one of India’s most experienced batters in recent years and his promotion shows the management’s trust in him. Pant, however, continues to remain part of the Test squad as wicketkeeper.
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Why is Hardik Pandya not in ODI Squad?
Many fans are searching for the answer to: Why is Hardik Pandya not in ODI Squad?
The reality is that Hardik Pandya has actually been included in the ODI squad, but his selection is subject to fitness clearance after injury concerns during the IPL season.
The same condition also applies to Rohit Sharma, who is part of the ODI squad but will need medical clearance before the series begins.
Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for the entire tour to manage workload ahead of the England series.
Fresh faces earn maiden India call ups
The selectors rewarded domestic and IPL performances with several new names getting their first India call up.
The players include:
- Manav Suthar
- Gurnoor Brar
- Harsh Dubey
- Prince Yadav
Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey have been selected in both Test and ODI squads, while Prince Yadav is part of the ODI team only.
Ishan Kishan returns to ODI team
Another important change is the return of Ishan Kishan to the ODI squad.
Pant has been left out of the ODI setup, allowing Kishan to return as the second wicketkeeper alongside KL Rahul.
IND vs AFG ODI series 2026 schedule
The IND vs AFG ODI series 2026 schedule begins after the one off Test in New Chandigarh.
- June 13: 1st ODI in Dharamshala
- June 17: 2nd ODI in Lucknow
- June 20: 3rd ODI in Chennai
With Shubman Gill leading the side and several young players getting opportunities, the India vs Afghanistan 2026 squads clearly show that Indian cricket has already started preparing for its next generation.
