'Selectors don't want to distribute Test caps so easily': BCCI in dilemma over testing new pacers for one-off Afghanistan Test - Report

The men’s selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar is expected to announce India’s squad for one-off Afghanistan Test at home once the Indian Premier League (IPL) playoffs situation is clear. They don’t want to hand debut caps easily considering Team India have an uphill task ahead of them to qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 final.

Jasprit Bumrah has struggled for wickets in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 and won’t be a part of playoffs as Mumbai Indians (MI) have been eliminated already. A call on Bumrah’s availability for the one-off Afghanistan Test is likely to be taken after the discussion among the selection committee, as per a report by TOI.

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Jammu & Kashmir's Auqib Nabi has emerged as a candidate with most wickets in Ranji Trophy 2025-26 but he hasn't been part of the India 'A' programme. Prince Yadav has impressed selectors too but he has barely played first-class cricket. While Anshul Kamboj made his Test debut last year, Gurnoor Brar is another pacer who has been asked to increase their workload for the remainder of the IPL 2026 as they are on BCCI's targetted list of pacers. Meanwhile, Nitish Kumar Reddy’s increased pace has been is promising.

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“The selectors don’t believe in compromising the Test squad just because India are playing Afghanistan. They want the best lineup to play. They don’t want to distribute Test caps so easily. Siraj’s workload threshold is very high. Prasidh hasn’t played an IPL match since April 24. Nitish Kumar Reddy is also seen as someone who can contribute to the seam-bowling department. The BCCI monitors all data points when it comes to workload management,” a BCCI source told the English daily.

“A call on Bumrah will be taken after a detailed discussion. The last time India played Afghanistan in a Test match, the frontline XI was played,” the source added.

Short period between IPL final and one-off Afghanistan Test

The IPL 2026 will conclude on May 31. The one-off Afghanistan Test will be played in Mullanpur, starting January 6. Bowlers with heavy workloads during the IPL may be rested for the one-off Test as it WTC points aren’t on offer. In addition, the selectors want Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj to play all nine Tests, including Sri Lanka Test series, New Zealand tour and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at home next year.