India Name ODI Squad for Afghanistan Series; Three Youngsters Earn Maiden Call-Ups

Guwahati, May 2026 : India have announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan, scheduled to be played in Dharamshala on June 14, Lucknow on June 17, and Chennai on June 20, with three promising youngsters—Gurnoor Brar, Prince Yadav, and Harsh Dubey—earning their maiden call-ups.

The squad will be led by Shubman Gill, with Shreyas Iyer named vice-captain, and includes senior stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. However, Rohit’s participation remains subject to fitness clearance after he sustained a hamstring injury during the ongoing IPL 2026 season. All-rounder Hardik Pandya is also under medical observation following back spasms that have kept him out of recent Mumbai Indians matches.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar, speaking at a virtual press conference, confirmed that both players will be assessed by the medical team before the series.

A notable inclusion in the squad is wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, who returns to the ODI setup, replacing Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel. Explaining the decision, Agarkar said Pant remains an important part of India’s Test plans.

“Rishabh remains a part of the Test squad and is an incredible player. He’s not part of the ODI squad, but right now he’s a key part of the Test team,” Agarkar said.

The selectors have rewarded consistent IPL performances with maiden ODI opportunities for three youngsters. Fast bowler Prince Yadav, who impressed for Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2026 with 16 wickets, has been picked for his pace and accuracy. He is joined by fellow pacer Gurnoor Brar and left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Harsh Dubey, both of whom had earlier been part of the Test squad for the one-off match in New Chandigarh.

The selection committee has opted for a balanced attack as India continue preparations for the 2027 Men’s ODI World Cup. The pace unit includes Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, along with Brar and Yadav, while the spin and all-round options feature Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, and Harsh Dubey.

The squad also reflects a mix of youth and experience across departments, with KL Rahul continuing as a key wicketkeeping and batting option alongside Ishan Kishan and the senior batting core.

India ODI squad: Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey.

With the inclusion of emerging talents and a core of experienced campaigners, the series is expected to serve as an important testing ground for India’s evolving ODI combination ahead of a packed international calendar.