The one-off Test match between India and Afghanistan, starting on June 6 in New Chandigarh, will be a landmark Test for several reasons.
This will be Afghanistan’s only second Test match against India; they had made their Test debut back in 2018 against India in Bengaluru, where India thumped the visitors by an innings.
The Indian players return to the longest format after a glut of white-ball cricket. The Asian giants will be hoping to bring back confidence and positivity as they reel from the scars of the 2-0 whitewash suffered at the hands of South Africa last November.
The Indian Test team is in transition, having moved on from the retired trio of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and R. Ashwin; Mohammed Shami continues to be ignored by the selectors, and Axar Patel has been dropped.
This IND vs AFG Test match will further test India’s depth and bench strength, as Ravindra Jadeja has been rested from this one-off fixture, with Harsh Dubey and Manav Suthar getting maiden Test call-ups, and one of them is likely to make his Test debut, joining Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar to form the spin attack.
Indian fans would have to brainstorm to remember the last time India played a home Test without both Ashwin and Jadeja. So we bring you this interesting bit of info.
IND vs AFG: When Was The Last Time India Played A Home Test Match Without Both R. Ashwin And Ravindra Jadeja?
The last time India played a home Test match without both Jadeja and Ashwin in the lineup was way back in November 2010 in the Nagpur Test against New Zealand when India’s spin attack comprised Harbhajan Singh and Pragyan Ojha. Neither Ashwin nor Jadeja had made their Test debuts then.
Ashwin played his maiden Test in November 2011 and Jadeja in December 2012. For a long period of time, both of them were key parts of the Indian team in home Tests, providing great all-round performances that helped India remain invincible for a dozen years in home Test series.
Both, however, were part of the 3-0 drubbing given by New Zealand in 2024 that ended India’s epic home dominance. Ashwin retired soon after that series, announcing his retirement in the middle of the BGT 2024/25 in Australia.
Jadeja has continued to be a vital cog in India’s side in the longest format.
IND vs AFG: Why is Ravindra Jadeja not playing against Afghanistan?
Jadeja has been rested from the one-off Test against Afghanistan. With this Test match not being part of the World Test Championship and a much weaker opponent in front, the selectors have picked Harsh Dubey and Manav Suthar in the squad.
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