Sanju Samson and Mohammed Shami are likely to make a comeback with the national cricket team during Team India’s multi-format series against Afghanistan. Afghanistan will tour India for a one-off Test and a three-match ODI series after the conclusion of the ongoing IPL 2026 season.
Ahead of the series against Afghanistan, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee will name the squads for the Test and the ODI series. As it was previously reported, for the assignment against the lower-ranked team, BCCI could consider some shuffles in the squads, especially in the Test team.
India to face Afghanistan in a multi-format series
The one-off Test between India and Afghanistan will be from June 6 to 10 at the clash is Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh, and the three-match One Day International series is scheduled to start from June 14.
The first ODI will be held at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala, the 2nd will be at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on June 17, and the third one will be on June 20 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Mohammed Shami can be picked for the IND vs AFG Test
According to a RevSportz report, the Board of Control for Cricket in India can consider the experienced pacer, Mohammed Shami, for the Test match. As Jasprit Bumrah is likely to offer a break during the Test, the board will have to select a proper replacement who can lead the pace attack from the front. Another regular pacer for the team in the Whites, Mohammed Siraj, can also ask to take a rest.
“Veteran pacer Mohammed Shami could make a highly anticipated return. Absent from Test cricket since the June 2023 WTC Final, Shami has emphatically proven his fitness through stellar performances for Bengal and the Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2026,” RevSportz mentioned in their report.
Mohammed Shami has been in good form and pushing himself continuously to make his return for the Men in Blue. While there were concerns over his fitness, the pacer has been proving the concerns wrong by playing constantly for the Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2026. The seamer has so far picked 10 wickets from 12 matches.
In the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season, the Bengal pacer, Mohammed Shami, bagged 37 wickets in 13 innings, 15 wickets from 7 innings in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26, and got 16 wickets in 7 innings during the previous edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy tournament.
Sanju Samson can return to India's ODI team
On the other hand, Sanju Samson is poised to make a comeback into the ODI team for the series against Afghanistan. Samson, who has smashed a couple of centuries in IPL 2026 for the Chennai Super Kings and was one of the best performers for Team India in the 2026 T20 World Cup, can make his way into the ODI team again.
“While a relatively stable ODI squad is anticipated – mirroring India’s recent limited-overs setups – a change is expected behind the stumps. Sanju Samson is strongly favoured to secure a spot in the ODI squad,” mentioned in the report.
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