India Likely to Rest Star Players for Afghanistan Test Due to Workload Management
India Likely to Rest Star Players for Afghanistan Test Due to Workload Management
With a congested international calendar following the conclusion of IPL 2026, the Indian cricket team management is considering resting key players for the one-off Test against Afghanistan scheduled from June 6-10. The decision, which would see regular Test players skip the red-ball contest, comes amid concerns about player burnout with only a few days separating the IPL final on May 31 and the Test match.
According to sources tracking developments, the final call rests with team management and selectors, who will monitor how far regular Test players advance in the IPL. The absence of World Test Championship points in the Afghanistan Test has made the fixture less critical from a ranking perspective, allowing the team to prioritize workload management.
Workload Concerns Take Priority
"There is not much gap between the IPL final and the Afghanistan Test, so the selectors and management will be wary of not burning out the players, as there are three ODIs, then the white-ball series in England," a source explained. "There are no WTC points in the Afghanistan Test, and the stakeholders need to carefully manage the workload because some of the players would be on the road for close to two months and have a lot of cricket in the remainder of the year."
The source added: "ODIs and WTC are priority right now, and you want your best players to be fit, fresh and available for the four Tests - two vs Sri Lanka and two vs New Zealand - and the many ODIs. Why even risk a Bumrah for this Test?"
Potential Resting of Star Players
Players likely to be rested include captain Shubman Gill, pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. These multi-format players would have to switch from T20 cricket in the IPL to Test cricket and then to ODIs within a month's span.
"The captain and coach have been very vocal about such scheduling in the past and could have the final say," adds the source. The situation could change based on IPL team performances - if franchises like Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians are not in playoff contention, their players might be available sooner.
Opportunity for New Faces
With potential slots opening up due to workload management, selectors have been tracking several domestic players who could earn maiden call-ups. Fast bowler Gurnoor Brar and left-arm spinner Manav Suthar have impressed selectors, as have Harsh Dubey, Auqib Nabi, and Devdutt Padikkal.
"One thing is clear with this selection panel: they rarely jump the gun. It's no secret that Gurnoor and Manav have been very impressive, as have Harsh, Auqib and Devdutt. It will all boil down to the discussions between the thinktank and the medical team because optimum utilisation of resources is going to be key here," the source stated.
Packed Schedule Ahead
India faces a grueling schedule in June and July, including Tests and ODIs against Afghanistan, T20Is against Ireland, followed by a white-ball tour of England featuring five T20Is and three ODIs. Immediately after that, the team travels to Zimbabwe for a three-match T20I series beginning July 23.
The selectors are expected to finalize squads for both the Afghanistan Test and the three ODIs that follow, with the final decision likely to be made closer to the selection meeting dates.