Overview
- Selectors’ plans, reported Tuesday, point to possible rest for captain Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah and other all-format players for the one-off Test against Afghanistan.
- The Afghanistan match does not count toward the World Test Championship, so decision-makers are prioritizing fitness for WTC series later in the year and long-range ODI planning.
- A six day gap separates the May 31 IPL final from the June 6–10 Test in Mullanpur, which raises burnout and injury concerns for players switching formats.
- The final squad will be named after the IPL with input from the selection panel, team management and medical staff, and availability may hinge on which franchises reach the playoffs.
- If seniors are rested, uncapped players such as Gurnoor Brar, Manav Suthar, Auqib Nabi and Devdutt Padikkal are in contention for call-ups, with regulars expected to return for the ODI series starting June 14.