IND vs AFG Test, Preview: India’s struggling batting order in focus against spirited Afghanistan

A one-off Test against Afghanistan, beginning at the New PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh on Saturday, will be an ideal reconvening point for India before it squabbles up for a late charge at the World Test Championship final.

Left with a daunting path to the summit clash after the home series loss to South Africa, preparation for the upcoming must-win tours to Sri Lanka and New Zealand is already on the agenda.

Nowhere does India need to clean house more than its feeble batting order. Despite playing in home conditions, India averaged a paltry 15.23 across the four innings in that series. Only two batters, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ravindra Jadeja, scored fifties in that series.

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But the early indicators in New Chandigarh suggest India is banking on continuity. Head coach Gautam Gambhir confirmed on match eve that India’s under-fire No. 3 choice Sai Sudharsan will continue in the role. Handing the vice-captaincy to KL Rahul appears to be another move borne from the urge to give more chances to Rishabh Pant.

Even against the modest wares of Afghanistan, a left-hand heavy batting order can make the most out of facing left-arm orthodox Sharafuddin Ashraf and leg-break bowler Qais Ahmed.

India will not mind the selection of another left-arm orthodox spinner, Nangeyalia Kharote, given that it is the kind of spin it will face the most in Sri Lanka.

Though it would be a tall ask to emulate the way Simon Harmer tormented India, Afghanistan has no frontline off-spinner to even give it a shot.

Dhruv Jurel contributed just 29 runs in the South Africa series, but his prolonged stint in the optional net session on Friday hinted that his selection is on the cards. Jurel’s inclusion will push Nitish Kumar Reddy out of the playing XI, especially with Manav Suthar or Harsh Dubey’s impending debut impending.

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Gambhir clarified that the two left-arm orthodox spinners are seen as potential options for Sri Lanka. With Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav assured of their place, a third spinner leaves room for just two quicks.

Picking Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna is a no-brainer, but a shoulder injury to the former opens up a slim window for Gurnoor Brar to play as the second debutant.

For Afghanistan, this is no less than a red-letter occasion, and it hopes this Test turns out better than its last against India eight years ago.

Hashmatullah Shahidi, Rahmat Shah, and Afsar Zazai are the only three still standing from that Bengaluru Test that lasted just two days. Rahmat can add to the occasion by adding 30 runs and becoming the first Afghan batter to complete 1000 runs in Tests.

It is a homecoming of sorts for Azmatullah Omarzai, who plays at the venue for Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The all-rounder scored a golden duck in his solitary Test appearance, but has the potential to hold the middle-order together.

Besides a more experienced opponent, Afghanistan has the soaring mercury to deal with. An impressive show under the strain of the elements could make its occasion even more memorable.

Published on Jun 05, 2026