India players during the second Test against South Africa in November 2025. (AP)
New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) medical team has begun communicating with players competing for the only Test against Afghanistan next month, asking them to gradually increase their workload.
As TimesofIndia.com reported last month, the Indian Cricket Board has been wary of bleeding its best players. However, with no red flags raised by the medical team, the full-strength batting line-up, led by captain Shubman Gill, is scheduled to reach the field in Mullanpur from June 6.“The initial plan was to continue monitoring the players’ workload and the medical team has not found any red flags at the moment regarding the batting line-up. There is still a week before the IPL playoff picture becomes clearer but all the regular batsmen – KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant – are all fit to play the Afghanistan Test.”
A source tracking developments explained that the BCCI is getting regular data on player workload during the IPL and is satisfied with what it has seen so far.
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However, the bowling group could see a lot of changes as the think tank will not want to burn their fast premiums under the unforgiving June sun. Jasprit Bumrah is unlikely to take part in the competition which is not part of the World Test Championship (WTC) tournament. A late call is expected for players like Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna. With the focus on the Sri Lanka Test series, the selectors may be tempted to try new faces, especially in the bowling department.
This could open doors for consistent artists on the fringes.“The bowling line-up is where changes are expected, and where workload management is likely to kick in. There is no point in burning bowlers for this match and it is also a great opportunity for the selectors to test some fast catches and spinners ahead of the all-important Test series in Sri Lanka,” adds the source.While India’s batting heartland looks organised, a big call needs to be made for the No.3 position ahead of the tours of Sri Lanka and New Zealand later this year.
Sai Sudharsen had a good performance, but his comeback was not encouraging at all. While he has the backing of the team management, it remains to be seen to what extent he can hold off the in-form Devdutt Padikkal, who has been a consistent performer on the domestic circuit.
The southpaw scored 543 runs in the Ranji Trophy and had a best tally of 725 runs from just nine innings in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Karnataka. The 25-year-old has been fast-tracked into the Test pool by senior men’s selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar for the home series against England and could return to the scheme of things when the selectors meet next. Agarkar & Co. is also likely to push. Over the longer format specialists because they are not convinced by the stop arrangements in the playing eleven and the move in the batting order.The time between the IPL and the Afghanistan Test is so short, the focus will immediately shift to the shorter formats – the ODI series against the same opposition and the subsequent tours of Ireland and England.
