The visitors are scheduled to play a one-off Test and a three-match ODI series during the tour. The second-ever Test match between India and Afghanistan will be played at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, from June 6 to 10. The BCCI’s senior men’s selection committee announced India’s squad for the match on May 19 and made several notable changes.

A couple of senior spin-bowling all-rounders have been dropped from the squad, while three players have earned their maiden Test call-ups.

Here’s a look at the complete list of changes in India’s Test squad for Afghanistan series from last series played against South Africa:

Who’s out?

World No. 1 Test all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel have been left out of the squad for the one-off Test. Meanwhile, world No. 1 Test bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for the entire series. All three were part of India’s squad for the last Test series against South Africa in November 2025.

Fast bowler Akash Deep, who was also included in that squad, was unavailable for selection due to an injury sustained ahead of the IPL 2026 season.

Who’s in?

Fast bowler Prasidh Krishna, who featured for India in the 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, has returned to the squad. He is expected to partner Mohammed Siraj with the new ball in Bumrah’s absence.

The selectors have also handed maiden Test call-ups to three players. Rajasthan spinner Manav Suthar and Vidarbha spin-bowling all-rounder Harsh Dubey have been included as replacements for Jadeja and Axar, while Punjab fast bowler Gurnoor Brar has earned his first India Test call-up in place of the injured Akash Deep.

There had also been discussions around the inclusion of Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi Dar following his impressive performances in the last two editions of the Ranji Trophy. However, he was not considered for selection.

Leadership change

As many as 10 players who were part of India’s Test squad against South Africa have retained their places for the Afghanistan Test. However, there has been a change in the leadership group. KL Rahul has been appointed vice-captain for the one-off Test, replacing Rishabh Pant as Shubman Gill’s deputy.

Pant had served as vice-captain during the Freedom Series 2025 and also led the Indian team in the second Test after Gill was ruled out due to a neck injury.

India’s squad for only Test against Afghanistan

Shubman Gill (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (VC), Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey

India’s squad for Test series against South Africa in 2025

Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (VC & WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Akash Deep

India’s best XI of only Test against Afghanistan: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (VC), Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna

Adding massive star power to the upcoming white-ball leg, veteran icons Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are locked to make a major return to the One Day International (ODI) squad, anchoring a blockbuster multi-format bilateral series in the southern hemisphere.

The grueling, month-long tour kicks off in late October and features a packed itinerary consisting of five T20 Internationals, five ODIs, and a highly critical two-match Test series.

India Tour of New Zealand 2026: Complete Schedule

The tour is structured to progress seamlessly from the shortest format of the game through to the traditional five-day format, offering cricket enthusiasts non-stop action across October, November, and December.

IND vs NZ T20I Series (October 22 - November 1)

The tour opens with a rapid-fire, five-match T20I series, allowing both teams to test their explosive young talent.

1st T20I: October 22

2nd T20I: October 24

3rd T20I: October 27

4th T20I: October 30

5th T20I: November 1

IND vs ZN ODI Series (November 4 - November 15)

The 50-over format will grab the premium spotlight as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli step back onto the field to bolster the top-order.

1st ODI: November 4

2nd ODI: November 7

3rd ODI: November 10

4th ODI: November 13

5th ODI: November 15

IND vs NZ Test Series (November 19 - December 1)

The tour concludes with two high-stakes Test matches, heavily tied into the World Test Championship cycle, where playing conditions are expected to severely test the batters.

1st Test: November 19 to November 23

2nd Test: November 27 to December 1

Why India's NZ Tour Matters

Playing in New Zealand has historically presented a unique challenge for Indian squads due to the heavy wind factor, lateral movement, and drop-in pitches. The inclusion of seasoned anchors like Kohli and Sharma for the ODI leg adds much-needed stability to the middle order, ensuring that India fields its absolute best combinations as they prepare for major upcoming ICC cycles.

From veterans like Rohit Sharma and Brian Lara to emerging names like Angkrish Raghuvanshi, the evening was a true tribute to cricket’s past, present, and future.

Former India captain Rohit Sharma was among the most celebrated names of the night, receiving a special memento for leading India to two consecutive ICC titles — the 2024 T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy earlier this year. Receiving the award from Sunil Gavaskar, Rohit looked fitter and more confident than ever in his first public appearance since being relieved of ODI captaincy ahead of the Australia tour.

Brian Lara, the West Indies great, was conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award, joining Indian spin legend Bhagwath Chandrasekhar, who received the Lifetime Achievement of the Year. An emotional Lara said, “To be presented with this accolade at such a celebrated forum is special indeed. It feels wonderful to know that my journey in cricket continues to be remembered and cherished.”

India dominated several categories — Sanju Samson was named Men’s T20I Batter of the Year, and Varun Chakravarthy earned the T20I Bowler of the Year honour. Youngster Angkrish Raghuvanshi won the Emerging Player of the Year, while Harsh Dubey received the Domestic Cricketer of the Year for his stellar Ranji season.

As per recent reports, several Bollywood celebrities, including Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, and Salman Khan, are expected to grace the event with their presence.

A report by Hindustan Times cited a source close to the event’s organizers, indicating that the guest list is indeed filled with prominent personalities. The source mentioned that Shah Rukh Khan is likely to attend, given that his team will be playing the opening match. Additionally, Salman Khan might also make an appearance, possibly to promote his upcoming film Sikandar.

The IPL 2025 opening ceremony is set to dazzle audiences with high-energy performances by Arijit Singh, Shreya Ghoshal, Karan Aujla, Disha Patani, Shraddha Kapoor, and Varun Dhawan.

In addition to Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, actors Vicky Kaushal, Sanjay Dutt, and Shraddha Kapoor, Madhuri Dixit, Kareena Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Pooja Hegde, Janhvi Kapoor, Ananya Panday, Sara Ali Khan, and Ayushmann Khurrana, among others, are also expected to attend the IPL 2025 opening ceremony.

Reports suggest that the American pop band OneRepublic has been approached to perform at the event. However, there has been no official confirmation regarding their participation yet.

The 18th season of the IPL begins with defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) taking on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).The tournament will feature ten teams—Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings, Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Titans, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Lucknow Super Giants, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru—competing in 74 matches across 13 venues. The season will conclude with a grand finale on May 25.

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Iyer was signed by PBKS for a record-breaking Rs 26.75 crore during the November mega auction, making him the second-most expensive player in IPL history.

The appointment marks a reunion for Iyer with Punjab Kings’ head coach Ricky Ponting, under whose guidance he previously led Delhi Capitals to the IPL 2020 final. The franchise’s move to secure Iyer underscores their ambition to contend for the title in the upcoming season.

With this announcement, six teams have confirmed their captains for IPL 2025, while four franchises, including reigning champions KKR, are yet to reveal their leadership plans. Royal Challengers Bangaluru (RCB), Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), and Delhi Capitals (DC) are also among those without an announced captain.

KKR is still searching for Iyer’s replacement. Ahead of the mega auction, RCB have released former skipper Faf du Plessis, who joined Delhi Capitals during the auction, fueling speculation about Virat Kohli returning as captain.

Lucknow Super Giants, having signed Rishabh Pant for a record Rs 27 crore, may hand him the leadership role after releasing KL Rahul, who also moved to Delhi Capitals.

As IPL 2025 preparations intensify, the remaining teams are expected to finalise their captaincy choices in the coming weeks.

(NA - Not Announced)

The eight-team tournament will feature 15 matches, and will be played across Pakistan and in Dubai.

In Pakistan, Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi will be the three venues to host tournament play. Each Pakistan venue will feature three group games apiece, with Lahore hosting the second semi-final.

Lahore will also host the final on 9 March, unless India qualify, in which case it will be played in Dubai. Both the semi-finals and the final will have reserve days.

The three group matches involving India, as well as the first semi-final, will be played in Dubai.

Pakistan take on New Zealand in the Group A tournament opener in Karachi on 19 February. The Dubai leg begins the following day with India taking on Bangladesh.

Group B begins on 21 February, with Afghanistan squaring up against the Proteas in Karachi.

A big weekend then kicks off with rivals England and Australia set to clash in Lahore on Saturday (22 February), with the much-anticipated Pakistan-India clash set for the day later.

The eight sides in the Champions Trophy competing for the famous white winners’ jackets are the teams that finished in the top eight positions on the points table of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.

Group A of the tournament features current Champions Trophy holders and hosts Pakistan, along with India, New Zealand and Bangladesh, while Group B features Cricket World Cup 2023 champions Australia, alongside Afghanistan, England and South Africa.

Groups:

Group A - Pakistan, India, New Zealand, Bangladesh

Group B - South Africa, Australia, Afghanistan, England

Champions Trophy Schedule:

19 February, Pakistan v New Zealand, Karachi, Pakistan

20 February, Bangladesh v India, Dubai

21 February, Afghanistan v South Africa, Karachi, Pakistan

22 February, Australia v England, Lahore, Pakistan

23 February, Pakistan v India, Dubai

24 February, Bangladesh v New Zealand, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

25 February, Australia v South Africa, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

26 February, Afghanistan v England, Lahore, Pakistan

27 February, Pakistan v Bangladesh, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

28 February, Afghanistan v Australia, Lahore, Pakistan

1 March, South Africa v England, Karachi, Pakistan

2 March, New Zealand v India, Dubai

4 March, Semi-final 1, Dubai

5 March, Semi-final 2, Lahore, Pakistan

9 March, Final, Lahore (unless India qualify, when it will be played in Dubai)

10 March, Reserve day

*All matches will be day-night encounters

Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also accepted the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) demand to follow the hybrid model for all ICC tournaments held in India until 2027.

According to a report by the news agency PTI, the decision was finalised after ICC's newest chairman, Jay Shah, met the board members, including Pakistan, in an informal meeting at the headquarters in Dubai on Thursday.

"It's been agreed in principle by all parties that the 2025 Champions Trophy will be held in the UAE and Pakistan, with India playing its matches in Dubai. It's a win-win situation for all stakeholders," the ICC source told PTI.

Last week, after months of back-and-forth and withdrawing its boycott threat, PCB, reportedly threatened to lose their hosting rights, finally agreed to BCCI and ICC's demand to adapt the hybrid model for the Champions Trophy. "Cricket should win, that's most important, but with respect for all. We are going to do what's best for cricket. Whichever formula we go for, it would be on equal terms," Pakistan Cricket Board head Mohsin Naqvi had stated after the last ICC meet.

In return, PCB demanded that a similar rule be followed during all ICC tournaments played in India until 2031. However, the ICC has agreed to a hybrid model for all its events until 2027.

During this period, India will host two ICC tournaments. They will co-host the T20 World Cup with Sri Lanka in 2026, implying that Pakistan will play all their matches in the island nation. They will also host the Women's World Cup in 2025, hence Pakistan's cricket team will have to travel to a neutral country for all their matches.

"During the 2026 men's T20 World Cup, Pakistan will play its matches in Sri Lanka. The compensation demanded by PCB for the Champions Trophy hybrid model is still under consideration," the source said.

Champions Trophy schedule to be announced soon?

The chaos surrounding the hybrid model for the ICC tournament caused a considerable delay in announcing the schedule for the Champions Trophy. In fact, as per the contract between ICC and the broadcasters, the schedule should have been announced at least 90 days in advance but that deadline has already been breached. However, with the decks being cleared, the release of the Champions Trophy schedule could be expected soon by fans and broadcasters, Star Sports.

The channel's representatives were in Dubai to discuss the operational modalities of the 'Hybrid Model' and prospective schedule with Shah. But that meeting was postponed to Saturday, according to sources.

We take a look at how the teams are stacked after the two-day auction process in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians (MI) have a robust core of Indian players, but their overseas signings for the upcoming season are unconventional. While the presence of Trent Boult and Mitchell Santner adds experience, the rest of their foreign contingent is relatively untested in the IPL.

Players like England’s Will Jacks, Reece Topley, South Africa’s Lizaad Williams, and Afghanistan’s Allah Ghazanfar have limited league experience. New Zealand's Bevan-John Jacobs and South Africa’s Ryan Rickelton are making their IPL debuts, making MI’s depth a key area to watch.

Mumbai Indians SQUAD

Batters: Suryakumar Yadav (retained), Rohit Sharma (retained), Tilak Varma (retained), Bevan-John Jacobs

Wicketkeepers: Robin Minz, Ryan Rickelton, Krishnan Shrijith

Allrounders: Hardik Pandya (pace; retained), Naman Dhir (spin; RTM), Will Jacks (spin), Raj Angad Bawa (pace), Vignesh Puthur (spin)

Spinners: Allah Ghazanfar, Karn Sharma, Mitchell Santner

Fast bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah (retained), Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Ashwani Kumar, Reece Topley, Satyanarayana Raju, Arjun Tendulkar, Lizaad Williams

Chennai Super Kings

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) made headlines by re-signing R. Ashwin after a decade, reuniting him with Ravindra Jadeja to further strengthen their spin department. The addition of young Afghan spinner Noor Ahmad complements their strategy. Their squad now boasts several all-rounders and fast bowlers. CSK has also placed bets on players like Rahul Tripathi, Vijay Shankar, and Kamlesh Nagarkoti, hoping to revive their IPL careers.

Chennai Super Kings SQUAD

Batters: Ruturaj Gaikwad (retained), Rahul Tripathi, Shaik Rasheed, Deepak Hooda, Andre Siddarth

Wicketkeepers: Devon Conway, MS Dhoni (retained), Vansh Bedi

Allrounders: Ravindra Jadeja (spin; retained), Shivam Dube (pace; retained), R Ashwin (spin), Sam Curran (pace), Rachin Ravindra (spin; RTM), Vijay Shankar (pace), Anshul Kamboj (pace), Jamie Overton (pace), Ramakrishna Ghosh (pace)

This financial advantage was strategically utilized to craft a balanced team, aiming to secure their first-ever IPL championship. A significant move in their team assembly was the acquisition of Shreyas Iyer, a renowned Indian batsman, for an unprecedented sum of Rs 26.75 crore, setting a new record for the highest purchase in IPL history.

Iyer, who previously led Kolkata Knight Riders to their third IPL victory in 2024, is expected to enhance PBKS's batting strength significantly.

In addition to Iyer, PBKS has also fortified its bowling lineup by signing Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal, both for Rs 18 crore. These players are among India's top wicket-takers in T20Is, promising to add depth and versatility to the team's bowling department, potentially making it one of the most competitive in the league.

Prior to the auction, PBKS retained two of its key players, Shashank Singh and Prabhsimran Singh, for INR 5.5 crore and INR 4 crore, respectively.

Shashank Singh has been recognized for his impactful performances as a middle-order batsman and a part-time bowler, while Prabhsimran Singh has been valued for his explosive batting at the top order and his skills as a wicketkeeper.

Since its inception in 2008, PBKS, formerly known as Kings XI Punjab, have experienced a mix of highs and lows, with their best performance being a runner-up finish in 2014.

However, inconsistency and frequent changes in leadership have been major obstacles in their quest for the title. The appointment of Ricky Ponting as head coach signifies a strategic shift towards stability, tactical acumen, and long-term planning in pursuit of success.

With a substantial budget and a strategic approach to the auction, PBKS focused on addressing key areas such as securing a consistent top-order batsman, experienced finishers, and specialist bowlers for the death overs.

This approach underlines their ambition to build a well-rounded and competitive squad for IPL 2025, aiming to overcome past inconsistencies and achieve their long-awaited championship victory.

PBKS IPL 2025 Full Player List: Punjab Kings Squad with Complete Details of Players Bought, Retained, and Released

PBKS Full List of Retained Players

PBKS Full List of Released Players