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Focus on Bumrah's workload as BCCI set to announce Indian squad for Afghanistan series on May 19
News9Live | May 16, 2026 9:39 PM CST

New Delhi: Jasprit Bumrah is likely to miss either the one-off Test match or the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan, which will begin in New Chandigarh on June 6. According to a PTI report, the BCCI selection committee is looking to manage Bumrah’s workload while announcing the squads for the series on May 19.

The one-off Test match against Afghanistan isn’t a part of the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. The three-match ODI series will start on June 14 in Dharamshala, with the next two games in Lucknow (June 17) and Chennai (June 20).

The bilateral ODI series has attracted significant attention among fans, as legendary batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are expected to feature in the contest. They have announced retirements from the other two international formats, making ODIs the only format they continue to play.

No experiment expected with Test squad

The selection committee is not going to experiment with the Test team and the players, who featured in red-ball format over the past year, are expected to continue against Afghanistan.

Despite having a hectic IPL season, Bumrah is unlikely to skip the entire two-week series, which will begin on June 6. According to PTI sources, if the pacer plays the Test match, he wouldn’t participate in the ODI series. In case he decides to feature in the ODI series, then he would be rested for the Test match.

In case Bumrah doesn’t play, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna are expected to take the new ball. With both Akash Deep and Harshit injured, Jammu and Kashmir seamer Auqib Nabi is likely to be the reserve fast bowler in the squad. He picked up 60 wickets in the last Ranji Trophy season.

If Bumrah decides to play the Test match, then Nabi might have to wait for his turn in international cricket, as not more than three frontline pacers would be selected for a Test match in India, where spinners are expected to play a bigger role.


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