Ravindra Jadeja Rested for Afghanistan Test, Remains Key to India's Test Strategy

Ajit Agarkar, the chief selector for the Indian men's cricket team, has announced that Ravindra Jadeja will be rested for the one-off Test against Afghanistan. This decision is strategic, allowing the team to explore new talent ahead of the World Cup. Agarkar reassured fans that Jadeja remains a crucial part of the Test setup and is still the first-choice spinner. The Test is set for June 6, followed by an ODI series. Discover more about the squad selections and the rationale behind Jadeja's rest in the full article.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 20, 2026, 02:07 IST

Jadeja's Resting Explained by Chief Selector

Guwahati (Assam) [India], May 19: Ajit Agarkar, the chief selector for the Indian men's cricket team, has confirmed that star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja will not participate in the upcoming one-off Test against Afghanistan. He emphasized that this decision is not due to any concerns regarding Jadeja's position in the Test squad.

Agarkar reassured fans that Jadeja is still a vital part of India's Test lineup and is considered the primary spinner for the team.

In terms of One Day Internationals (ODIs), with the World Cup approaching in about a year, the selectors are taking this opportunity to evaluate new talent, particularly in preparation for the conditions expected in South Africa.

While established players like Jadeja and Axar Patel are well-regarded, this period is being utilized to give emerging players a chance to shine.

“Jadeja is simply being rested for this Test. We want to provide him with this opportunity, and he understands the situation. He remains a crucial part of our Test team. We didn’t clarify this earlier, but it’s just for this match that he’s not included. Regarding ODIs, with 15-16 months until the World Cup, we aim to assess our options, especially considering South African conditions, and give newer players some exposure. We know what Jadeja and Axar can do, so now is the time to explore other talents,” Agarkar stated during a press conference.

Jadeja last played in India's Test XI against South Africa in November 2025 and participated in the ODI series against New Zealand earlier this year.

The one-off Test against Afghanistan is scheduled to take place in Mullanpur on June 6, followed by a three-match ODI series starting June 14, with venues in Dharamshala, Lucknow, and Chennai.

India's Test squad for the Afghanistan match includes: Shubman Gill (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (vc), Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant, Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey, and Dhruv Jurel.

India's ODI squad against Afghanistan features: Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vc), KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, and Harsh Dubey.