New Delhi: Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) pacer Prince Yadav is reportedly likely to be considered for his maiden India call-up in the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan. Prince has been one of the standout performers with the ball for the Lucknow Super Giants in the ongoing IPL 2026.
As per a report in PTI, the Ajit Agarkar-led national selection panel is keeping a close eye on pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah’s workload ahead of the Afghanistan series and might rest the pacer from either ODIs or the one-off Test. The one-off Test between India and Afghanistan will be played in New Chandigarh from June 06 to 10.
The Test match will not be part of the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. It will be followed by three ODIs from June 14 to 20. As per PTI, Prince, who plays for Delhi in the domestic circuit, might be in consideration for a spot in the ODI squad. The pacer has picked 16 wickets in 12 matches for LSG in the ongoing IPL 2026 and has impressed with his pace and precision.
He also enjoyed a brilliant run for Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he bagged 17 wickets in 8 matches. With Harshit Rana still out injured and unlikely to return anytime soon, the selectors might give Prince a chance to prove his credentials in the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan.
Devdutt Padikkal to make comeback in Tests
Devdutt Padikkal might return to India’s Test squad to replace Sai Sudharsan at no.3. Sudharsan was India’s first-choice no.3 on their tour of England, while Padikkal was part of India’s Test squad that lost 2-0 against South Africa at home last year. Padikkal has been scoring runs consistently in the domestic circuit and the IPL, and might get a recall in the whites.
The selectors are unlikely to make wholesale changes in the Test squad for the one-off game against Afghanistan, and the core is expected to remain the same under captain Shubman Gill. If Bumrah skips the Test match, Jammu & Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi might be picked in the squad as the third pacer following his heroics in the Ranji Trophy.
Senior pacer Mohammed Shami will lead the attack alongside Prasidh Krishna or Mohammed Siraj. If Padikkal misses out on the squad, India have the choice of picking Dhruv Jurel or Washington Sundar at no.3 for the Test match against Afghanistan.