Suthar, Dubey and Brar earn maiden call-up to India's squad for Afghanistan Test
Guwahati, May 19
Left‑arm spinner Manav Suthar, left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Harsh Dubey, and lanky pacer Gurnoor Brar have been handed maiden call‑ups to India's squad for the one‑off Test against Afghanistan, to be played in New Chandigarh from June 6‑10.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar and BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia announced the 15‑member squad on Tuesday, with Shubman Gill appointed captain and KL Rahul replacing Rishabh Pant as the vice‑captain. Brar, Suthar, and Dubey have been India 'A' regulars after being standout performers in domestic cricket.
Apart from Gill, Rahul, and Pant, the batting group includes Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, and Dhruv Jurel. With Ravindra Jadeja rested for the game, Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar will handle spin bowling duties.
"Ravindra Jadeja is an integral part of the team. He's rested for the Test match, and we are trying to give other players opportunities. It's for this Test that we have not picked him," said chief selector Ajit Agarkar in a virtual press conference while announcing the squad.
The inclusion of Suthar and Dubey reflects the selection panel's intent to expand India's spin bowling resources in red-ball cricket. In the pace department, Mohammed Siraj will lead the attack with Jasprit Bumrah rested and supported by Prasidh Krishna and Brar.
The game against Afghanistan is the first time India have played Tests since the 2-0 defeat to South Africa at home last year. The Test, though outside the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, carries significance for India's red‑ball assignments, considering two-match tours of Sri Lanka and New Zealand await them.
India and Afghanistan have played only one Test against each other previously, at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru in 2018. It ended in two days, with India winning by an innings and 262 runs.
India Test squad: Shubman Gill (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (vc), Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant (wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey, Dhruv Jurel.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally, selectors are looking beyond the usual names. Suthar and Dubey have been consistent for India A, and Brar's height and bounce could be useful on Indian pitches. But I hope this isn't just a one-off experiment—they need a proper run.
Interesting to see Gill leading the side—he's been impressive in limited-overs cricket but this Test will be a real test of his captaincy. The trio getting maiden call-ups is exciting, though I'd have liked to see more pace options beyond Siraj and Prasidh.
Good move resting Jadeja and Bumrah—they're invaluable for the long season ahead. The newbies have earned their spots through domestic grind, not just IPL cameos. That's the right way. Also, KL as vice-captain is a sensible choice given his experience.
Exciting times for Indian cricket! The transition is happening organically. Suthar's control with the ball and Dubey's big-hitting lower down the order could be game-changers. Just hope they get proper game time and aren't treated as net bowlers. 🤞
Not sure about leaving out experienced players like Ashwin and Axar for this game. Yes, we need to look ahead, but a one-off Test against Afghanistan isn't the ideal platform to blood three newcomers. What if the match is competitive? Pressure on them could backfire.
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