(Image source from: PTI)

The Indian Premier League (IPL) for 2026 is just weeks away from wrapping up, yet the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is busy finalizing its plans for the upcoming international season. The Indian team is set to start its international matches again with a single Test against Afghanistan, and the team selection is expected to happen before the IPL season ends. A meeting has been arranged by the BCCI to talk about the selections, where crucial decisions regarding Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami may be made. A report from the Times of India states that the selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, has organized a discussion with the BCCI to outline their plans for the upcoming months. This selection meeting could occur in the next week to ten days. The report also mentioned that choosing the fast bowlers is a top priority for the board. The 'targeted bowlers' have been instructed to increase their physical training during the rest of the IPL.

Players like Anshul Kamboj and Gurnoor Brar, who have been with the India 'A' team recently, are being considered. Another fast bowler that might be an option for selection is Auqib Nabi from Jammu and Kashmir, who performed exceptionally well in the Ranji Trophy matches. The board is said to want to maintain a strong team for the single Test against Afghanistan. Therefore, they are keen to include Jasprit Bumrah, their leading fast bowler. Mohammed Shami, who has not participated in international matches since last year’s Champions Trophy, might be overlooked again.

"The selectors aren’t willing to weaken the Test team just because the opponent is Afghanistan. They want the strongest players on the field. They prefer not to hand out Test caps too easily. Siraj's capacity for workload is much higher. Prasidh hasn't played in the IPL since April 24. Nitish Kumar Reddy is also regarded as someone who can help with fast bowling. The BCCI keeps track of all data regarding workload management," stated a BCCI source.

"A decision on Bumrah will be made after thorough discussion. When India last took on Afghanistan in a Test match, the top players were selected," the report continued. India is set to play nine Tests as part of the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle over the next nine months, although the Afghanistan match is not included in that cycle.