India’s cricket calendar isn’t slowing down. Right after the IPL 2026 final wraps up on May 31 in Ahmedabad, the team will jump straight into a one-off Test and three ODIs against Afghanistan. There’s barely a breather—just five days between the T20 finale and the start of the Test, which kicks off on June 6 in Mullanpur. Then come the ODIs, lined up for June 14 in Dharamsala, June 17 in Lucknow, and June 20 in Chennai.
Shubman Gill looks set to captain the side, while Jasprit Bumrah will probably sit these matches out to rest. That’s what the Times of India is reporting. They also mention that KL Rahul is still the go-to wicketkeeper in ODIs, with Ishan Kishan poised as his backup. Rishabh Pant may find himself left out in favor of Kishan, who’s been in blistering form. Kishan was a standout in India’s T20 World Cup win earlier this year, and he’s tearing it up in the current IPL season too.
It’s quite a comeback story for Kishan. He hadn’t played an ODI in over two years, but strong domestic performances—like leading Jharkhand to their first Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy—got him back into the mix. He shined at the T20 World Cup and carried that confidence into the IPL, racking up 420 runs in 12 games, averaging 35 with a strike rate soaring at 185.84. Four fifties, with a top score of 91, show he means business.
This selection scenario isn’t great news for Sanju Samson, though. He’ll likely miss out on ODI action again, despite playing a key part in the T20 World Cup win.
Expect the official India squads to drop around May 19. The BCCI’s already nudged players to start gearing up for the Test. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, discussions are pointing towards bigger goals: the next World Test Championship final and the 2027 ODI World Cup. The selectors also have one eye on the 2028 T20 World Cup, so there’s plenty to play for in every format right now.
