What Could India’s Playing XI vs Afghanistan Be for the One-Off Test at Mullanpur?

India head into this Test with an unusual selection problem, not who their best eleven are, but which bowling combination the surface demands. With Bumrah, Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Akash Deep all unavailable, the debate has narrowed to a binary: three seamers and one spinner, or two seamers and two spinners. Mullanpur is an unproven Test venue, and the pitch’s behaviour across five days will be the decisive variable. Get the combination wrong, and India’s fifth-day attack has a visible gap.

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Mullanpur Pitch: Seam Early, Spin Late

Mullanpur’s T20 record offers the clearest surface clue available. Pacers have taken 69 wickets compared to spinners’ 26 across IPL matches at this ground, a ratio that points firmly toward seam assistance in the early sessions. The sand-based foundation produces genuine carry and bounce with the new ball.

That advantage fades across five days. Punjab pitches in summer heat slow progressively, and the surface is expected to grip for spinners from Day 3 onwards with sharper turn by Day 4 and 5. India’s combination has to account for both phases, not just the first morning.

Dubey, Brar and India’s Bowling Call

Kuldeep Yadav carries this attack regardless of which combination is chosen. His 76 Test wickets in 17 matches at an average of 22.4 prove he can sustain a bowling effort across a Test, but asking him to operate as the lone spinner across two innings on a deteriorating surface is a different demand. That workload concern is the strongest argument for including Harsh Dubey alongside him.

Dubey’s 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season produced 69 wickets at 16.98, breaking the all-time record for wickets in a single Ranji season. He has 97 first-class wickets at 19.98 with an economy of 2.87 across 18 matches.

Gurnoor Brar sits on the other side of this argument. He took 33 wickets in 12 Ranji matches at 25.66 and owns 52 first-class wickets with the best bowling of 6/42. Gujarat Titans invested INR 1.30 crore in him at the IPL 2025 auction, a significant endorsement from Ashish Nehra. He also finished as the joint-leading wicket-taker with 8 wickets for India A against Australia A in the 2025-26 first-class series. Three seamers means Brar debuts; two spinners means Dubey plays and Brar waits.

India Playing XI vs Afghanistan One-Off Test 2026

The predicted lineup balances a top-heavy batting order with a bowling attack suited to what Mullanpur is expected to produce across the first three days.

Nitish and Washington extend the batting to eight and share the spin workload when Kuldeep needs rotation.

Batting Depth Without Kohli and Rohit

With both unavailable, this order asks several players to absorb pressure they haven’t regularly faced in this configuration. Rahul at the top has the temperament for it; Jaiswal provides the attacking intent that stops the opening stand from turning passive. Sai Sudharsan at three brings red-ball solidity, and Gill leads at four with the added weight of captaincy.

Pant at five is the pivot, capable of acceleration when India are ahead and of batting time when they aren’t. Padikkal at six adds left-hand variety and first-class experience sufficient for this opposition.

Afghanistan’s Threat Without Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan has been rested on the advice of head coach Richard Pybus following injury management concerns during IPL 2026. Qais Ahmad leads the spin attack in his absence, supported by left-arm options Sharafuddin Ashraf and Nangeyalia Kharote, with Bilal Sami, Zia Sharifi, and Saleem Safi in pace.

Afghanistan’s batting features Hashmatullah Shahidi as captain alongside Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, and Azmatullah Omarzai. Kuldeep’s angle and drift have historically troubled right-handed batters; he remains the sharpest threat in this squad, whatever combination is selected around him. The pitch will ultimately decide how competitive this Test becomes, and whichever India playing XI vs Afghanistan one-off Test 2026 takes the field on June 6 must be ready from the first over.

Do you think India should back three seamers and trust the pitch holds, or play Dubey and cover the fifth day properly? Drop your pick in the comments.

FAQs

Is Harsh Dubey in India’s squad for the Afghanistan Test?

Harsh Dubey is in India’s 15-man squad with a strong case built on 97 first-class wickets at 19.98. He broke the all-time Ranji Trophy record with 69 wickets at 16.98 in 2024-25, and his economy of 2.87 suits the demands of long spells on a turning surface.

Will Gurnoor Brar make his Test debut against Afghanistan?

Gurnoor Brar will likely debut if India goes with three seamers, but Harsh Dubey takes his spot if they opt for two spinners. Brar took 8 wickets as the joint-leading wicket-taker for India A against Australia A in the 2025-26 first-class series and has 52 first-class wickets with best figures of 6/42.

What is the Mullanpur pitch like for Test cricket?

Mullanpur’s sand-based surface offers early seam assistance, with pacers taking 69 IPL wickets compared to spinners’ 26. The pitch is expected to slow and offer increasing spin from Day 3 onwards, consistent with Punjab surfaces in summer.

Why are Bumrah and Jadeja not playing against Afghanistan?

Both Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja have been rested for workload management ahead of India’s upcoming schedule. Axar Patel and Akash Deep are also unavailable, which is why India’s bowling combination for this fixture is genuinely uncertain.

Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.

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