Overview
- Ansari left for Chandigarh on Monday and has joined Team India’s net sessions preparing for the one-off Test at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium.
- Coaches say his role is to replicate Afghanistan’s varied spin attack so Indian batters can practice footwork and shot selection on a slow surface.
- Ansari spent the entire IPL 2026 season on the Sunrisers Hyderabad bench but was retained by the franchise and has worked on his craft under SRH chief coach Daniel Vettori.
- He produced strong limited-overs form in the 2025–26 Vijay Hazare Trophy with 21 wickets in eight matches yet has not played first-class cricket since 2020.
- The net assignment gives Ansari a visible chance to impress national selectors because past net performers have earned higher opportunities after showing control, variation and temperament in elite-team sessions.