Suthar, Dubey and Brar earn maiden India Test call-ups for Afghanistan clash
Synopsis
Three uncapped players — spinner Manav Suthar, all-rounder Harsh Dubey, and pacer Gurnoor Brar — have broken into India's Test squad for the Afghanistan fixture, while both Bumrah and Jadeja are rested. With tours of Sri Lanka and New Zealand ahead, this match is less about Afghanistan and more about India stress-testing its red-ball depth.
Key Takeaways
Manav Suthar , Harsh Dubey , and Gurnoor Brar have received maiden Test call-ups for the India vs Afghanistan one-off Test.
The match is scheduled at New Chandigarh from 6 to 10 June 2025 .
Shubman Gill has been appointed captain; KL Rahul is vice-captain, replacing Rishabh Pant in that role.
Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah are both rested for the fixture.
This will be only India's second-ever Test against Afghanistan; the first, in Bengaluru in 2018 , ended in an innings and 262-run win for India inside two days.
The match falls outside the WTC cycle but precedes Test tours of Sri Lanka and New Zealand .
Manav Suthar, Harsh Dubey, and Gurnoor Brar have been handed maiden Test call-ups as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) named a 15-member squad for the one-off Test against Afghanistan, scheduled at New Chandigarh from 6 to 10 June. The selection, announced on Tuesday, also confirmed Shubman Gill as captain and KL Rahul as vice-captain, with Rishabh Pant stepping down from the deputy's role.
The New Faces
Left-arm spinner Suthar, left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Dubey, and pacer Brar all earned their berths on the back of consistent performances in domestic cricket and regular appearances for India A. Their inclusion signals the selection panel's intent to deepen India's red-ball bench strength, particularly in the spin department ahead of a demanding international calendar.
Leadership and Squad Composition
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar and BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia announced the squad at a virtual press conference. The batting line-up features Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, and Dhruv Jurel alongside the captain and vice-captain. Pant retains his place as the designated wicketkeeper.
With Ravindra Jadeja rested, the spin attack will be led by Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar. In the pace department, Mohammed Siraj heads the attack — Jasprit Bumrah is also rested — supported by Prasidh Krishna and the debutant Brar.
What the Chief Selector Said
Agarkar was clear about Jadeja's omission being a deliberate rotation call. 'Ravindra Jadeja is an integral part of the team. He's rested for the Test match, and we are trying to give opportunities to other players. It's for this Test that we have not picked him,' he said during the virtual press conference.
Context and What's at Stake
This match marks India's first Test appearance since their 2-0 home defeat to South Africa last year — a result that raised sharp questions about India's red-ball depth. Although the Afghanistan fixture falls outside the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, it carries practical weight: two-match Test tours of Sri Lanka and New Zealand follow in the near term, making this a valuable opportunity to blood new players under competitive conditions.
Notably, India and Afghanistan have met only once in Test cricket — at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru in 2018, a match India won by an innings and 262 runs inside two days. The New Chandigarh fixture will be only their second-ever Test encounter.
Full Squad
Shubman Gill (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (vc), Rishabh Pant (wk), Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Harsh Dubey, Gurnoor Brar.
With two high-profile tours on the horizon, how this squad performs in New Chandigarh will likely shape India's red-ball selections through the rest of 2025.
Point of View
Dubey, and Brar can press their claims ahead of the Sri Lanka and New Zealand tours. India's red-ball losses to South Africa last year exposed a thin support cast behind the first-choice eleven, and this squad is the selectors' answer to that critique. If the new faces underperform against a relatively modest Test opponent, the questions will only get louder.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the three players making their maiden Test call-up for India?
Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar, left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Harsh Dubey, and pacer Gurnoor Brar have all received their first Test call-ups. All three have been India A regulars and consistent performers in domestic cricket.
When and where is the India vs Afghanistan Test being played?
The one-off Test is scheduled at New Chandigarh from 6 to 10 June 2025. It will be only the second Test ever played between India and Afghanistan.
Why has Ravindra Jadeja been left out of the squad?
Jadeja has been rested as a rotation measure. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar confirmed he remains an integral part of the team and that the rest is specific to this match, with the selectors using the opportunity to give other players a chance.
Who is captaining India for the Afghanistan Test?
Shubman Gill has been appointed captain, with KL Rahul named vice-captain. Rishabh Pant, who previously held the vice-captaincy, retains his place in the squad as wicketkeeper but steps down from the deputy's role.
Does the Afghanistan Test count in the World Test Championship?
No, the match falls outside the WTC cycle. However, it carries significance as a preparation opportunity ahead of India's upcoming two-match Test tours of Sri Lanka and New Zealand.
