India’s national selectors meet on Tuesday May 18 in Guwahati to pick squads for next month’s one-off Test and three ODIs against Afghanistan. The Test begins in Mullanpur on June 6 just six days after the IPL final in Ahmedabad on May 31 making the turnaround one of the tightest in recent memory.

ODIs follow in Dharamsala on June 14, Lucknow on June 17 and Chennai on June 20. Several major selection questions are on the table and the answers to them will give the clearest indication yet of where India’s thinking lies heading into a packed home season.

Jasprit Bumrah’s workload and why he is unlikely to play both formats

As per PTI report, Jasprit Bumrah’s management will be the first item on the agenda. The selectors are expected to pick him for one format rather than both given the short turnaround from the IPL and the absence of any immediate urgency for him to feature in ODIs.

The 50-over World Cup is scheduled for October-November 2027 which means there is no pressing reason to expose Bumrah to both formats in the same short window.

His IPL 2026 season has been below his usual standards in terms of wicket count and the selectors will want him fresh and at his best for the Test rather than carrying him through three ODIs in quick succession immediately after a full IPL campaign. Mohammed Siraj is expected to lead the ODI bowling attack in Bumrah’s absence with Prasidh Krishna also likely to feature alongside him.

Rohit Sharma’s fitness and why the ODIs are the bigger concern

PTI report further stated that, Rohit Sharma missed a significant portion of Mumbai Indians’ IPL campaign with a hamstring injury and his most recent appearance against Punjab Kings saw him come to the crease only as an Impact Player rather than completing a full innings.

That level of fitness is not sufficient for an ODI series where a batter could be required to face 100 plus deliveries across batting and fielding in demanding conditions. The selectors will include Rohit Sharma in the side only if they are satisfied he is fully fit for the demands of a 50-over game.

The one-off Test is a separate conversation but the ODI selection hinges entirely on a fitness clearance that has not yet been confirmed. As per PTI reports, Rohit Sharma is unlikely to be available for the Afghanistan ODIs and the selectors are prepared to manage without him in that format.

The Test selection and why Devdutt Padikkal could get his chance

The one-off Test against Afghanistan carries more significance than the ODI series given India’s ongoing struggles in the traditional format. The home series defeat to South Africa last November exposed specific vulnerabilities against spin in home conditions and the number three position has been unsettled since Cheteshwar Pujara left the scene.

Sai Sudharsan was given opportunities and could not convert them consistently. As per report, Devdutt Padikkal is now expected to be given a sustained run starting from the Afghanistan Test. His IPL 2026 form with RCB has been strong and his technique against spin makes him a logical candidate for the role on what is expected to be a turning Mullanpur surface.

The other names in the discussion and what emerges from Tuesday’s meeting

Aquib Nabi, the architect of Jammu and Kashmir’s historic Ranji Trophy title, is expected to feature in the selectors’ conversation for the Test squad after taking 60 wickets in a remarkable domestic campaign. His understanding of local conditions and his ability to bowl on spinning surfaces makes him relevant for a Test against Afghanistan in the subcontinent.

Prince Yadav, who has impressed with pace and accuracy in IPL 2026, is being considered for the ODI squad as a fresh option if Bumrah is managed out of that format. Virat Kohli is expected to play all three ODIs having shown excellent form through the IPL season.

Hardik Pandya like Rohit Sharma has been managing a fitness issue through the IPL with back spasms forcing him out of several games and his availability for the ODIs is also uncertain heading into Tuesday’s selection meeting.