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The only test between India and Afghanistan is to be played in Mullanpur from Thursday (June 6). A day before the match, Team India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir indicated in the press conference that Sai Sudarshan will be given another chance, due to which the picture of the team combination is almost clear. Sudarshan will be seen batting at number 3. His playing in this position means that Devdutt Padikkal will have to wait for his turn.

Padikkal has again knocked on the door of the Indian team by scoring runs in all three formats of domestic cricket. However, his wait to wear Team India’s jersey has once again increased. Captain Shubhman Gill could not play in Guwahati due to a neck injury. He will take his number-4 position from Dhruv Jurel. Jurel, who is in excellent form, can be played at number six as an additional batsman.

Harsh or Suthar, who will debut?

The batting order of the Indian team is almost fixed. The opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul will start the innings. After this will come Sudarshan, Gill and then wicketkeeper batsman Rishabh Pant. This is Pant’s 50th Test. The vice-captaincy has been taken away from him. Pant would like to play a responsible innings in his special match. He will get support from Jurel and Washington Sundar in the lower middle order.

Kuldeep Yadav will lead the spin attack. In the absence of Ravindra Jadeja, two left arm spinners each – Harsh Dubey and Manav Suthar – have been included in the squad for the Mullanpur Test. The debut of one of the two is certain. Gambhir said that he wants to develop a fourth spinner through the Mullanpur Test. Now it remains to be seen who gets the chance first, Harsh or Suthar. The responsibility of fast bowling will be on Mohammad Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.

Probable playing XI of both the teams:

India – Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (Vice Captain), Sai Sudarshan, Shubman Gill (Captain), Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Harsh Dubey/Manav Suthar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna

Afghanistan – Sediqullah Atal, Rehmanullah Gurbaz, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Azmatullah Omarzai, Rehmanullah, Afsar Zazai (wicketkeeper), Sharafuddin Ashraf, Nangeyalia Kharote, Qais Ahmed, Ziaur Rehman.