After the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, the Indian cricket team will play a home series with Afghanistan. One test and three ODI matches will be played in this series. According to media reports, the Indian team will play with its full strength in the only test against Afghanistan. All players will be available for this only test and no one will be given rest. Also, no use will be used for selection in the current cycle of the World Test Championship. The only Test between India and Afghanistan will be played from June 6 to 10 at the Maharaja Yadvindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur.

BCCI issued instructions

According to a PTI report, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is not going to make any compromise for this only test. Even though this match is not a part of the World Test Championship, still all the players along with all the fast bowlers will be available for this match. Apart from Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, three fast bowlers will be taken in the form of Prasidh Krishna. The selectors have adopted a strict stance and said that if any of the Test playing players gets injured, only then will he remain out of the Test against Afghanistan. Apart from this, there will be no relaxation by BCCI.

How many tests does the Indian team have to play in the next one year?

The Indian team has to play a total of nine test matches till the next World Test Championship final. After the only match against Afghanistan, Team India has to tour Sri Lanka, where two test matches will be played. Then India will go on New Zealand tour and there will be only two test matches there too. Australia will tour India in the early months of next year i.e. 2027 and there will be five test matches in this home series.