Prince Yadav Earns Maiden India Call-Up as Bumrah Rested for Afghanistan Series

India announced squads for the Afghanistan Test and ODI series with young pacer Prince Yadav receiving his first national call-up, while Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for workload management.

May 19, 2026 | Guwahati:India’s selectors unveiled the squads for next month’s one-off Test and three-match ODI series against Afghanistan, with uncapped fast bowler Prince Yadav emerging as the biggest surprise inclusion. The Lucknow Super Giants pacer has earned his maiden national call-up following an impressive IPL 2026 campaign and strong domestic performances.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been rested from the series as part of workload management plans ahead of a packed international calendar. Ravindra Jadeja has also been rested for the one-off Test match scheduled to begin on June 6 in New Chandigarh.

Shubman Gill will lead India in both formats, while KL Rahul has been appointed vice-captain for the Test side, replacing Rishabh Pant in the leadership group. Reports also suggested that Pant has been left out of the ODI squad entirely as selectors continue to reassess combinations ahead of future ICC tournaments.

Prince Yadav’s selection comes after the young speedster impressed selectors with his pace, wicket-taking ability and consistent performances in the IPL and Vijay Hazare Trophy. Cricket experts believe the Afghanistan series could serve as a valuable opportunity for India to test emerging talents in international conditions.

The squads also feature fresh faces such as Gurnoor Brar, Manav Suthar and Harsh Dubey, highlighting the selectors’ intent to build bench strength while managing the workload of senior stars. Meanwhile, experienced players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been included in the ODI setup, although Rohit’s participation remains subject to fitness clearance.

India will face Afghanistan in a one-off Test before playing three ODIs in Dharamshala, Lucknow and Chennai later in June. The series is being viewed as an important preparation phase as India balances transition, fitness management and long-term planning ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.

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