K.L. Rahul has been re-appointed vice-captain of India’s men’s Test squad, while the spin duo of Manav Suthar and Harsh Dubey along with lanky pacer Gurnoor Brar have earned their maiden Test call-ups for the one-off Test against Afghanistan to be played in New Chandigarh from June 6 to 10.

Prince Yadav, one of the standout performers of the ongoing Indian Premier League season, has received his maiden ODI call-up for the three-match series to follow beginning on June 14.

The senior national selection committee, chaired by Ajit Agarkar, met in Guwahati — the hometown of BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia — on Tuesday afternoon to pick both squads.

“There are a couple of guys who are injured who were part of the one-day squad before. With Gurnoor, we have seen a lot of promise over the last season and a half now. Tall guy with a bit of pace,” Agarkar said.

“Keeping the South African World Cup in mind, we are obviously going to try a few guys who at that point might be useful if they keep developing.

“Prince Yadav has shown a lot of promise through the domestic season. I think he had a really good Vijay Hazare (Trophy). Obviously, bowled well in the IPL. But we have seen that he has grown a lot as a bowler over the last year or so and has the necessary skills to succeed with the white ball.

“It is a great opportunity with these three one-days coming up. Because with the way the rules are structured and so much in favour of the batsmen, you are obviously looking at guys with regards to conditions in South Africa who have a chance of succeeding.

“And there might be a few more we try over the course of the next few series. These two are the ones that we have zeroed in at this point,” he added.

The Test squad does not feature Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja, with both players having been rested, as clarified by Agarkar during a virtual media interaction.

Rahul thus replaces Rishabh Pant as vice-captain. Pant has also lost his place in the ODI squad to Ishan Kishan, although Agarkar stressed that there was “no doubt” over Pant’s credentials as a match-winner in Test cricket.

“KL has been Test captain before. Obviously, Rishabh was vice-captain and we want him to be the best batter that he can be and that he has always been in Test cricket. So, no, there is no other reason. That’s the best option we think at this point that we have as far as vice-captain with experience.” Agarkar said.

Apart from Jadeja, Axar Patel is another notable absentee from the squads. Agarkar, however, said Jadeja remains the No. 1 spinner for Tests.

“Jadeja has just been rested for this Test. He is aware of it. That’s why he is not in the team. He still remains a very integral part of the Test team. We know what Jadeja or Axar can do.

“This is the time we try and give some opportunity to some of the other guys. Wth regards to Tests, he still remains our number one spinner,” Agarkar said.

Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya, both dealing with fitness concerns during the ongoing IPL, have been included in the ODI squad for the series starting June 13, subject to fitness clearance.

The squads: Test: Shubman Gill (Capt.), KL Rahul (Vice-capt.), Yashasvi Jaiswal, B. Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant (wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey, Dhruv Jurel (wk).

ODI: Shubman Gill (Capt.), Shreyas Iyer (Vice-capt.), Rohit Sharma*, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Hardik Pandya*, Prince Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Harsh Dubey, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy. (* subject to fitness clearance)

The schedule: Test: June 6 to 10 (New Chandigarh).

ODIs: June 14 (Dharamsala), June 17 (Lucknow), June 20 (Chennai).

Published – May 19, 2026 06:40 pm IST

BCCI newly elected secretary Devajit Saikia arrives to attend a special annual general meeting at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai on January 12, 2025.
| Photo Credit: AP

Devajit Saikia’s and Prabhtej Singh Bhatia’s uncontested election as the secretary and treasurer, respectively, of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was formalised during the BCCI’s Special General Meeting (SGM) on Sunday (January 12, 2025).

With Saikia, the incumbent joint-secretary, and Bhatia, who has earlier served as a councilor, being lone candidates in their respective categories, there was no need for a ballot vote. Election officer A.K. Joti formally appointed the duo as office-bearers in the SGM that lasted 10 minutes.

The need for election had arisen since Jay Shah and Ashish Shelar had to vacate their posts for varied reasons. While Shah resigned as resigned on November 30 before taking over as the International Cricket Council (ICC) chair on December 1, Shelar had to step down immediately after being sworn in as a Minister in Maharashtra’s cabinet last month.

The BCCI will now have to conduct an election for joint-secretary’s post in the next 45 days, with Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) vice-president Sanjay Naik being a front-runner to fill in till the AGM later this year.

Saikia played four Ranji Trophy games for Assam in 1990-91. However, he has had a glittering career ever since stepping into the Assam Cricket Association in 2016. He has been instumental in developing the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.

Being the Attorney General for the Government of Assam, his proximity with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is also well-known. He will have to strike a delicate balance along with national selectors with regard to India’s men’s team’s transition in Tests and ODIs in the coming months.

Bhatia, a young entrepreneur whose family is in liquor business, is no stranger to BCCI administration. Besides having served as a councillor for three years, he has his father’s rich experience to bank on. Bhatia Sr. — Baldev Singh — has been instrumental in Chhattisgarh attaining BCCI’s full membership in 2016.

India coach Rahul Dravid.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

The appointment process for the head coach of India’s men’s cricket team is set to begin in the coming week. Jay Shah, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary, confirmed incumbent Rahul Dravid can reapply if he wants his tenure extended.

“We will call for applications in the next few days. Rahul Dravid’s tenure is coming to an end in June. If he wants to reapply, he can,” Shah said during an interaction at the BCCI headquarters.

Dravid, who took over in November 2021, was handed a short-term extension till the T20 World Cup after his two-year contract expired at the end of India’s loss in the final of the ODI World Cup last November. Shah confirmed the new head coach will be offered to take
charge till the ODI World Cup in 2027.

Contrary to the recent trend in international cricket of having separate head coaches for limited overs’ formats and Test cricket, the BCCI is unlikely to opt for a split coaching role.

“We are looking for a long-term coach, for three years,” Shah said. “There is no precedent of different coaches for different formats in Indian cricket. Besides, we have a number of all-format players. Ultimately, it will be the Cricket Advisory Committee’s (CAC’s) call. I have to implement what they decide. If the CAC selects a foreign coach, I can’t interfere.”

Even before the head coach applications are invited, the three-member CAC— headed by former batter Ashok Malhotra and including Jatin Paranjape and Sulakshana Naik— will have to finalise the prolonged appointment of a national selector.

“A few interviews for the selector’s post have already happened. The CAC will meet in a week’s time to finalise the name and we will announce it soon,” Shah said.

The BCCI in January had advertised for a national selector’s post in order to revert to the convention of each of the five zones represented in the selection panel. For more than a year, the north zone has not been represented in the selection panel whereas the west zone has two members in the panel since last July.

As a result, Salil Ankola is set to make way for a new appointee. The Hindu understands that domestic stalwart Mithun Manhas and Nikhil Chopra, the former India offspinner, are main contenders to join the Ajit Agarkar-chaired panel.

Shah stated that the uproar over the Impact Player rule in the Indian Premier League, introduced since the 2023 edition, will be discussed with various stakeholders after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup in June. “The Impact Player rule was brought in as a test case. On the bright side, it is providing additional playing opportunities to two more Indian players in every match,” Shah said.

“We will consult with the franchise captains, players, franchises and broadcasters and then decide about the future course. It’s not a permanent rule nor am I saying we will move past it.”

Shah is widely believed to be the prime contender to replace Greg Barclay as the International Cricket Council (ICC) chair later this year. Shah shrugged the query aside, “Let there be speculation. Let me be here (in the BCCI). Am I not doing a good job (as BCCI secretary)?” he concluded.