No Shubman Gill in one-off Test against Afghanistan? BCCI likely to rest star players after IPL 2026

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 has already crossed three weeks of the competition and will go through another five weeks. However, the national side will have a hectic schedule after the competition, as the Shubman Gill-led side will play a home series against Afghanistan just a week later. 

In such cases, there is always a chance of players getting burnt out with heavy workloads. The one-off Test against Afghanistan for the WTC 2021-23 runners-up is going to begin on June 06, just six days after the end of the T20 event on May 31.

Jasprit Bumrah and Shubman Gill likely to get break against Afghanistan Test

A few players, such as Gill and premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah, are likely to be given a break, especially since the red-ball clash doesn’t count towards the ongoing WTC cycle. They could also be added for the three-match ODI series that follows. 

“There is not much gap between the IPL final and the Afghanistan Test, so the selectors and management will be wary of not burning out the players, as there are three ODIs, then the white-ball series in England.” A BCCI source expressed to the Times of India (TOI).

“There are no WTC points in the Afghanistan Test, and the stakeholders need to carefully manage the workload because some of the players would be on the road for close to two months and have a lot of cricket in the remainder of the year.” He reckoned.

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A selection meeting is expected to happen in the first week of May before they announce the squad. The eyes are on the physical fitness of Shubman Gill, Bumrah, KL Rahul, and other premier two-format players. 

BCCI prioritizes ODI World Cup and WTC post IPL 2026

After the conclusion of the IPL 2026, India has been focusing on the WTC and next year’s ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. This will result in the team management not risking key players like Bumrah in a low-stakes one-off Test against the Asian side.

“ODIs and WTC are priority right now, and you want your best players to be fit, fresh, and available for the four Tests – two vs Sri Lanka and two vs New Zealand – and the many ODIs. Why even risk a Bumrah for this Test?” The source revealed.

After the Afghanistan series, India will play the full white-ball series against England apart from the T20Is in Ireland before they make a trip to Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. Post that, they head home for more games against the West Indies. Australia is also scheduled to come to India for the BGT 2027.