India Picks Three New Faces for One-Off Test Against Afghanistan

The Indian cricket team has given a chance to three new players for the one-off Test match against Afghanistan next month. Left-arm spinners Manav Suthar and Harsh Dubey, along with Punjab fast bowler Gurnoor Brar, have been selected for the first time in the Test squad.

The match will be played from June 6 to 10 at the Mullanpur stadium in New Chandigarh. This will be the first time this ground hosts a Test match.

Why These Players Got Selected?

Harsh Dubey is a left-arm spinner who can also bat well. He has scored over 1000 runs in first-class cricket. He was picked ahead of Axar Patel, who was not included this time.

Manav Suthar played only three Ranji Trophy matches this season but did very well. He took 18 wickets, with best figures of 8 for 42. He also scored a century and took seven wickets in another match.

Gurnoor Brar impressed in the unofficial Tests against Australia A, where he took eight wickets. He was the joint highest wicket-taker in that series along with Suthar.

What the Selector Said?

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar explained that the team is going through changes. Some players have moved away from Test cricket, so they are looking at new options. He said they want players who can contribute with both bat and ball.

He also spoke about why KL Rahul was made vice-captain instead of Rishabh Pant. Agarkar said Rahul has captained before and has good experience. He added that Pant is still a very important Test player for India.

Who Is Not Playing?

Some senior players are not part of this match. Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja have been rested. Akash Deep is recovering from a back injury and is not in the team.

The Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Auqib Nabi Dar, who took 60 wickets in the Ranji Trophy and helped his team win the title for the first time, did not make the squad. Agarkar said he was close to selection, but they did not need an extra fast bowler for this home Test.

Full India Test Squad

• Captain: Shubman Gill
• Vice-captain: KL Rahul
• Other players: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey, Dhruv Jurel

                                               

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