The Indian Team’s first International assignment after the successful T20 World Cup defence will be the series against Afghanistan, which consists of a one-off Test Match. India’s Test fortunes over the past few years have been under-par, with home-series whitewashes against New Zealand and South Africa coming in the span of a year and a half. Added to their woes are the retirements of the prolific trio of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and R Ashwin.
The Test match offers the Indian team the leeway to give opportunities to fresh faces, who have been toiling away in the domestic circuit. The 2025-26 Ranji Trophy has seen high levels of performance from the players, and with India’s Test team in somewhat of a transition, a brilliant performance in the one-off Test could ensure a longer rope with the Test team.
Here are three top bowlers from the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 who could be considered for one-off Afghanistan Test:
3) Shreyas Gopal – Karnataka
A true stalwart of India’s domestic circuit, leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal was prolific for Karnataka in their run to the finals. Leading the wicket-taking charts for the eight-time Ranji winners with 48 scalps across ten matches in the season, Gopal has been Karnataka’s go-to man with the ball. He also scored 469 runs at an average of 33.50, with five half-centuries, showing his reliability with the bat.
After spending the 2023-24 season with Kerala due to diminishing chances with Karnataka, Gopal returned with newfound determination and clarity, and it is reflected in his performances in 2025. He contributed to Karnataka’s 2024-25 Vijay Hazare Trophy victory with 18 wickets and has become a mainstay for the team. At 32 years of age, Gopal is at the peak of his prowess and will be hopeful when India comes calling for new faces.
